A new chapter for Aloys’ world – now as an online adventure
Rumors have been circulating for years about an online game in the Horizon universe have been circulating for years – now it’s official: At G-Star 2025, NCsoft and Guerrilla Games unveiled the long-awaited MMORPG “Horizon Steel Frontiers”. The first gameplay footage showed a world rich in detail that immediately brings to mind the popular PlayStation titles Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
The developers transport players to the so-called Deadlands, a region based on real landscapes in Arizona and New Mexico. Amid desert ruins, overgrown machine wrecks, and vast canyons, players will encounter “thousands of other players,” as NCsoft explains in the accompanying developer video. The mix of cooperative hunts for machine creatures and PvP battles between rival tribes will be at the heart of the gameplay.
Mounts, grappling hooks, and climbing passages provide the necessary mobility, while the combat system retains the typical Horizon style: analyze weak points, strike with precision, and dodge at the right moment. It’s already clear that Steel Frontiers wants to transfer the feel of the single-player template to the large MMO format without losing any of its dynamism.
”A Monster Hunter in the world of Horizon?” – Community torn between enthusiasm and skepticism
The reactions to the material shown have been overwhelmingly positive. Many fans praise the successful mix of familiar visuals and a fresh MMO approach. Comments such as the following are piling up on YouTube: “This is Monster Hunter… and I really like it” or “This looks like Monster Hunter, I’m excited”. The parallels to Capcom’s successful series are obvious – especially in the epic battles against mechanical giants and the cooperative gameplay.
But there is also criticism: the game will initially be released only for PC and mobile, which is disappointing for many PlayStation fans. Users such as Frøst-PS even call it “a slap in the face for Horizon fans” who had hoped for a PS5 version. Nevertheless, the developers are leaving the door open – NCsoft’s release strategy to date suggests that a later Steam release or even a console port cannot be ruled out.
There is no fixed release date yet, but Horizon Steel Frontiers already seems to have the potential to breathe new life into the MMO landscape. If NCsoft manages to leverage the strengths of the series – emotional storytelling, rich world-building, and a strong sense of community – then Horizon Steel Frontiers already seems to have the potential to breathe new life into the MMO landscape. If NCsoft manages to translate the strengths of the series – emotional storytelling, atmospheric world, and tactical gameplay – into an online experience, this could be the next big blockbuster.
