This weekend, your PS5 could welcome a AAA exclusive without you needing a PlayStation Plus subscription. Horizon Hunters Gathering, the multiplayer spin-off of the Horizon saga, launches its very first playtest from February 27 to March 1.
Developed internally by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the title will also be tested on PC via Steam. But on PlayStation 5, there is an important feature: you can try to play it for free, without PS Plus, provided you go through the official beta program.
How to play Horizon Hunters Gathering for free on PS5
The announced testing phase is a closed beta. This means that no free downloads are available on the PlayStation Store. To hope to receive an invitation, you must register for the PlayStation beta program. Invitations are sent through this program. Being registered does not guarantee automatic selection, but it is currently the only route in.
If you are already a member, remember to check your notifications. If you’re not, registering will at least put you in a good position for future testing sessions. Essential point: no PS Plus subscription is required to participate in this test phase.
A new multiplayer spin-off in the Horizon universe
Horizon Hunters Gathering is a tactical co-op action game. Unlike the main opuses centered on Aloy, this new experience highlights several playable heroes. These characters were created specifically for this spin-off. However, familiar faces like Aloy and Erend might appear.
The term “The Gathering of Hunters” refers to the central faction of the game. It is a group of warriors who set out to defend colonies and innocents against the machines. Visually, the title adopts a more colorful graphic style, evoking certain modern multiplayer games. Each hero has a distinct combat style: some favor melee, others ranged attacks.
Game modes and hub structure
The main hub also goes by the name Hunters’ Gathering. Several modes have already been presented. In Machine Incursion, players must repel an attack on a tribe, with a final confrontation against a gigantic mechanical boss. Cauldron Descent, for its part, offers a mission in several stages in environments reminiscent of the cauldrons of the main games. Exploration, coordination and management of enemy waves seem to be at the heart of the experience.
The Horizon “curse”, a debate that resurfaces
On the Internet, some are already talking about the “curse of Horizon”. When Horizon Zero Dawn was released, the game faced off against The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Horizon Forbidden West faced Elden Ring.
This time, the Horizon Hunters Gathering beta coincides with that of Marathon. The parallel amuses some of the players. However, the previous episodes have never been failures. The franchise maintains a solid and faithful foundation. With this free beta, Guerrilla Games is testing new territory: that of cooperative multiplayer in an already well-established universe.