Horizon MMO Canceled by NCSoft

News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key developers. Let's delve into the details.

NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects

According to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN, NCSoft—the renowned developer behind the Lineage and Guild Wars series—canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision stems from an internal "feasibility review," which also reportedly led to the cancellation of a project codenamed "J," while another, "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage"), remains under evaluation.

The MTN report further indicates that the developers directly involved with "Project H" have left NCSoft. Remaining team members have been reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation. While neither Sony nor NCSoft have officially commented, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. The possibility of another developer picking up the project remains open.

However, fans of the Horizon universe needn't despair entirely.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon "Online Project"

Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, has been actively developing a separate online project within the Horizon universe since at least 2022. A December 16, 2022 Twitter (X) post confirmed their pursuit of developers to join their Amsterdam team for this "Online Project," promising a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer hinted at the scale of this online project, seeking someone to design "multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players." This suggests significantly larger and more challenging enemies designed for multiplayer combat.

Further solidifying the scope of this project, a recent job posting (January 2025) for a Senior Platform Engineer seeks an individual with experience in "building and operating multi-service, 1M+ globally distributed systems." This strongly suggests Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base of over one million.

While details remain scarce, this points to a substantial online experience currently in development at Guerrilla Games, possibly an alternative to the canceled NCSoft MMORPG.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

The November 28, 2023 announcement of a strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft adds another layer to this story. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and Sony's global reach in the gaming industry. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership could open doors for other Sony titles to find their way onto mobile platforms.