Sony has just lifted the veil on a project as ambitious as it is surprising: Horizon Steel Frontiers, a brand new title in the universe of the Horizon franchise. Developed in partnership with a renowned South Korean studio, this massively online multiplayer game will propel players into large-scale battles against ever more formidable machines. But against all expectations, this new opus will not be available on PlayStation 5.
The game was designed exclusively for PC and mobile. A decision that will not fail to divide the community, as the Horizon series has always been closely linked to the PlayStation universe. For this project, Sony is partnering with NCSoft, known for successful titles like Guild Wars 2. Their goal: to create a reimagined Horizon experience around cooperation, strategy and exploration.
A unique open world, designed for online action
In Horizon Steel Frontiers, players will take on the role of customizable machine hunters, operating in an all-new region called the Deadlands. This vast hostile environment will host cooperative and competitive battles bringing together hundreds of participants.
The first images revealed show desert areas with steep terrain, with mechanical structures buried in the rock and colossal creatures crisscrossing the canyons. One of the peculiarities of the gameplay is the use of a grappling hook, allowing fluid and spectacular vertical movements. The influence of games like Monster Hunter is clearly felt in the structure of the world and the intensity of the clashes.
Each player will be able to create their own avatar, choose a tribe of origin, and modify their skills to adapt to the different types of machines encountered. It will also be possible to form alliances, join clans and participate in dynamic large-scale campaigns.
A different Horizon, which shakes up the codes of the franchise
The lack of a PlayStation 5 version immediately sparked controversy. Many players, loyal to the license since Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, are surprised to see this new opus escape them. However, this choice can be explained by the desire to reach a wider audience and to develop the franchise towards new formats.
This project does not replace the main episodes, but is a parallel variation, more focused on the community experience and replayability. This is not a direct sequel or a remake. Steel Frontiers frees itself from Aloy’s adventures to offer a more open approach, letting each player write their own story in a shared world.
Details regarding the release date and business model still remain unclear. The free-to-play format, accompanied by a subscription system for premium content, seems likely, like what NCSoft already offers in other titles. In the meantime, an official teaser site already allows you to learn more about the customization options and combat mechanics.
A new era for Horizon?
With Steel Frontiers, the Horizon saga enters a new dimension. More massive, more interactive, but also further from its console roots. This MMO represents a strategic opportunity for Sony to establish itself in the mobile and PC gaming market by relying on one of its most popular licenses. It remains to be seen whether this audacious bet will seduce as much as it divides.