PlayStation’s Horizon Hunters Gathering Takes a Drastic Turn – Live Service Ambitions Axed Amidst Poor Feedback
In a significant shift in the gaming landscape, PlayStation-owned Guerrilla Games has decided to scale back its live service ambitions for the long-awaited co-op game, Horizon Hunters Gathering. The move comes after playtest feedback revealed significant issues with the game’s design and mechanics.
According to reports from Bloomberg, which spoke to sources familiar with the company’s plans, Guerrilla Games is stripping out the live-service component altogether, transforming the game into a more traditional multiplayer experience with a story mode. This radical change in direction has left many wondering what this means for the future of Horizon Hunters Gathering and the developers working on it.
The news has significant implications for the gaming industry, particularly when it comes to PlayStation’s live service efforts. The company had ambitious plans to have at least 10 live-service games online by 2026, but so far, these efforts have been met with disappointment. The cancellation of The Last of Us Online and the delay of six internal projects have already raised eyebrows, and now, it seems that Horizon Hunters Gathering is facing a similar fate.
The development of Horizon Hunters Gathering has been shrouded in mystery for years, with rumors circulating about its scope and ambition. But it’s clear that the game was initially designed to be a live-service experience, complete with regular updates and expansions. However, it appears that this approach has not yielded the desired results, leading Guerrilla Games to reassess their strategy.
The reassignment of developers to other projects is also a worrying sign for those working on Horizon Hunters Gathering. With many of the game’s resources being redirected elsewhere, it’s unclear what the future holds for the project. Will it be able to recover from this drastic change in direction, or will it eventually become another casualty of PlayStation’s live service ambitions?
The news has sparked concerns among fans and industry experts alike, who are still trying to understand the reasons behind this sudden shift in direction. Has the game been too ambitious, or was the original design flawed from the start? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Horizon Hunters Gathering will not be the same live-service experience that was initially promised.
As for what this means for the future of VR and XR gaming, it’s a reminder that even the biggest players in the industry can make mistakes. But it also highlights the importance of community feedback and the need for developers to listen to their audience. By scaling back its live service ambitions, Guerrilla Games is taking a step towards creating a more traditional multiplayer experience that focuses on storytelling and gameplay rather than continuous updates.
Only time will tell if this new direction will pay off, but one thing is certain: Horizon Hunters Gathering will never be the same again.
Source: Game Developer XR — 2026-08-19