Horizon Online: Sony's Big Multiplayer Bet Gets A Superstar Team

Sony's live-service game goals remain intact, and one product that has escaped the latest wave of cancellations is the Horizon multiplayer project. Guerrilla Games is creating an all-star team to bring this online rendition of the iconic brand to life, and recent hiring demonstrates Sony's commitment to making it a success.

The game, which has not yet been officially revealed but has been acknowledged by the studio, is being directed by Rainbow Six Siege director Simon Larouche. They also recruited Bungie's former senior design lead, Chris Proctor, who was in charge of some of Destiny 2's most iconic weapons. Proctor will work as Horizon Online's design director, likely defining the game's weaponry and fighting features.

In an industry where live-service games are under intense examination, Sony continued to support the Horizon Online project. However, several live-service projects from Sony's first-party studios have been canceled, including an MMO Horizon game that was apparently under production at NCSoft. Guerrilla's multiplayer concept is still in active development, indicating that Sony sees great promise in it.

According to job postings, Guerrilla is preparing for a large player base. Positions requiring experience managing infrastructures supporting over one million global users, suggesting that the studio is preparing for a large-scale internet experience rather than a specialized spin-off.

While official information is limited, conjecture suggests a Monster Hunter-style cooperative gameplay loop. The concept of player groups working together to pursue, weaken, and dismantle huge mechanical animals is perfectly suited to Horizon's setting. To defeat towering robotic enemies, players may need to carefully remove armor plates, exploit adversary weaknesses, and coordinate their attacks.

The idea has apparently been under development since 2018, so it has had plenty of time to evolve. With such a lengthy development cycle, an official announcement is approaching. Sony's move toward live-service gaming has been met with suspicion, as many fans are unsure whether they want a multiplayer Horizon experience. Some are excited, but others are skeptical, given the live-service model's reliance on regular content upgrades, microtransactions, and player retention techniques.

Having said that, Guerrilla Games has regularly created high-quality single-player Horizon titles, so there's reason to assume they can develop a compelling multiplayer experience. It's unclear whether Horizon Online will prosper in an already competitive live-service market, but Sony appears keen to make it a success.

With a six-year development period and a powerful team of industry veterans behind it, all eyes are on Sony and Guerrilla to see how Horizon Online will evolve. An official reveal could be on the way soon, and it will be interesting to see if the gaming community accepts this ambitious new take on the Horizon franchise.