According to an insider report, Guerrilla Games is drastically reworking the title into a classic co-op adventure. Sony has given the studio until December.
Reportedly, the developers have completely overhauled Horizon Hunters Gathering to scrap all live-service elements. Apparently, there had been a lot of negative feedback from early, internal playtests.
This is according to a new report fromJason Schreier at Bloombergreports. According to sources “familiar with the company’s plans,” developer Guerrilla Games has been overhauling the game extensively since June. In response to the testers’ negative feedback, they are transforming Horizon Hunters Gathering into more of a classic multiplayer co-op game. The result: All live-service mechanics are being removed. Instead, the focus is shifting to a story mode and a “significantly smaller scope.”
December Deadline and Internal Restructuring
As Bloomberg further reports, Sony hasn’t canceled the title yet. However, Guerrilla Games likely only has until December to convince the PlayStation executives. In addition, the studio has already reassigned many developers from *Horizon Hunters Gathering* to another project. Executives also plan to critically evaluate this project at the end of the year.
This marks yet another bitter setback for Sony’s live-service dreams. After all, this strategy has been plagued by misfortune in recent years anyway.
Sony’s Ongoing Problems with Live-Service Games
Concord, arguably the most high-profile live-service flop, was pulled from stores shortly after release, and the servers went offline. In general, PlayStation has recently scrapped a string of live-service projects. For instance, Sony abruptly shut down Bluepoint Games after a live-service game based on *God of War* was canceled; Naughty Dog’s multiplayer title for *The Last of Us* met the same fate—reportedly when the game was already 80 percent complete. A *Twisted Metal* battle royale spin-off also fell by the wayside a few years ago. On top of that, Bungie’s *Marathon* continues to struggle massively, and the suspiciously quiet Fairgames lost its director last year.
One thing is certain: The last few years have been anything but easy for Sony in its desperate hunt for the ultimate live-service hit. Let’s hope that the bright minds at Guerrilla Games can still turn things around with Horizon Hunters Gathering and ultimately satisfy the higher-ups.
