Horizon Hunters Gathering Ditches Live Service Model

Horizon Hunters Gathering has undergone a significant overhaul, abandoning its live service elements in favor of a more traditional multiplayer co-op game. According to sources familiar with the company's plans, developer Guerilla Games has been working on this new direction since June, in response to poor feedback from playtesters.

## Background The decision to reboot the game comes after negative feedback during early private playtests, which reportedly led to a reevaluation of the game's live service mechanics. As a result, the game will now feature a story mode and a smaller scope, stripping away the live service elements that were initially planned.

## Impact on Development The change in direction has also led to a reassignment of many developers working on Horizon Hunters Gathering to another project at the studio. This project is also being evaluated by executives at the end of the year, and Guerilla Games has until December to impress PlayStation bosses. The game has not yet been cancelled, but the pressure is on to deliver a product that meets the expectations of the higher-ups.

## Live Service Setbacks This marks another setback for Sony's live service aspirations, which have faced numerous challenges in recent years. The company has experienced several live service failures, including the shutdown of Concord, and the cancellation of projects such as a God of War live service game and a Twisted Metal battle royale game. Other live service games, such as Marathon, have also underperformed, and the status of Fairgames remains uncertain after the departure of its director last year.

The available platforms for Horizon Hunters Gathering are expected to be PC and PS5, although no official release date has been announced. The future of the game remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Guerilla Games is working hard to turn Horizon Hunters Gathering into a game that will meet the expectations of PlayStation bosses and gamers alike.