An ambitious new chapter in Sony’s Horizon series is set to unfold with the announcement of Horizon Steel Frontiers, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) aimed primarily at mobile and PC platforms. This strategic move marks a significant expansion of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s offerings beyond its traditional PlayStation console business, leaving PlayStation 5 users waiting for a potential future release.
NCSoft, renowned for its expertise in the MMO genre with titles like the Guild Wars series and Throne and Liberty, is spearheading the development of Horizon Steel Frontiers in collaboration with Guerrilla Games and Sony. This partnership aims to harness the unique elements of the Horizon series, such as the exhilarating robot dinosaur hunting action seen in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, while introducing enhanced player freedom and deeply customizable combat systems.
Innovative Gameplay and Expansive World
Horizon Steel Frontiers promises to deliver an immersive gaming experience with features like large-scale raids and competitive resource gathering. Players will have the opportunity to create their own characters, align with tribes, and engage in combat using status effects, a hallmark of the mainline games. The ability to grapple onto colossal machines, dismantle parts, and wield weapons dropped by robotic foes adds a thrilling dimension to the gameplay. Additionally, players can carry these weapons on mounts for future battles, a novel feature that enriches the combat strategy.
The game’s setting, the Deadlands, draws inspiration from the landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona. According to Guerrilla studio director Jan-Bart Van Beek, players will share this vibrant world with “thousands of other players,” maintaining the series’ thematic exploration of the interplay between humanity, technology, and nature.
Strategic Development and Market Position
Guerrilla Games’ decision to entrust NCSoft with the development of Horizon Steel Frontiers reflects a strategic alignment with a studio experienced in the MMO sector. This move aligns with Sony’s broader strategy to pivot towards live-service games, a focus that has seen mixed results. While Helldivers 2 achieved notable success, other ventures like Concord and a multiplayer adaptation of The Last of Us fell short of expectations.
Moreover, Sony’s acquisition of Bungie has faced challenges, as evidenced by a recent $204 million write-down of Bungie’s assets amid struggles with Destiny 2. This places additional pressure on upcoming titles like Marathon to perform well in the competitive gaming market.
Looking Ahead: Potential and Challenges
While no release date has been announced for Horizon Steel Frontiers, the franchise’s popularity suggests a strong potential for success in the MMO space. The gameplay trailer showcases the series’ signature slick action, and the prospect of tackling robot dinosaurs with friends in a Monster Hunter-style environment is enticing for fans.
Notably, players will not assume the role of Aloy, the main protagonist of the core games, which could alleviate potential narrative constraints and allow for broader storytelling opportunities. This decision may also sidestep Aloy’s characteristic reluctance to accept help, which has been a narrative sticking point in previous titles.
As Sony continues to diversify its gaming portfolio and explore new markets, the success of Horizon Steel Frontiers will be closely watched. The game’s development and reception could provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of interactive entertainment and Sony’s role within it.
