Sony’s PlayStation division is overhauling its upcoming Horizon multiplayer title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, after negative player feedback from private tests, according to a Bloomberg report published on August 19, 2026.
Details of the Reboot
Guerrilla Games, the Amsterdam studio behind the mainline Horizon series, has been working on the reboot since June. The original vision for an online action game with ongoing live-service elements is being abandoned. In its place, the team aims to deliver a traditional cooperative multiplayer experience that includes a story mode and operates on a far smaller scale.
The game, announced in February 2026, featured a stylized art direction distinct from the photorealistic look of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Players would team up in groups of up to three as customizable Hunters to tackle machine threats in modes such as Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent. Closed playtests ran earlier in the year, first from late February into early March and then again in May. Feedback from those sessions proved poor enough to force the change in direction.
The project has not been canceled. However, Guerrilla staff were told they have until December to deliver a convincing milestone and impress Sony executives. Many developers previously assigned to Horizon Hunters Gathering are already being reassigned to a separate internal project that will also face evaluation at the end of the year.
Sony’s Ongoing Live-Service Challenges
This development fits a broader pattern of difficulties for PlayStation’s live-service ambitions. Over recent years the company has canceled or significantly reworked multiple multiplayer projects tied to major single-player franchises, burning through substantial budgets and development time in the process.
The Next Horizon Game Remains Distant
Meanwhile, the next mainline single-player Horizon game remains distant. While most of Guerrilla’s resources have focused on the multiplayer title in recent years, only a small team has been working on the sequel. Sources indicate that entry is still years away from completion.
A PlayStation representative declined to comment on the Bloomberg report. For now, the future of Horizon Hunters Gathering hinges on whether the scaled-back co-op vision can win over executives before the December deadline. Fans of the series waiting for a new single-player adventure will likely need to remain patient for some time yet.
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