A new report says Guerrilla is reworking Horizon Hunters Gathering after poor testing feedback and stripping out its live-service elements. The project is reportedly moving toward a more traditional co-op multiplayer game with a story mode and smaller scope. The report also says that staff have until December to show executives the game should remain in active development, while many assigned staff may move to another project.
The official PlayStation game page still lists Horizon Hunters Gathering for PS5 and PC, with teams of up to three players, and gives no release date. Sony and Guerrilla have not confirmed the reported redesign, so the December evaluation and possible staff moves should be treated as reporting, not final game details.
The official listing still shows PS5 and PC
The official listing describes teams of up to three Hunters fighting machines, with each Hunter bringing different abilities and weapons. It also supports solo play with Hunter NPCs, crossplay, and cross-progression between PS5 and PC. Those are the public details; the reported redesign has not replaced them, and there is still no release date.
That early-testing approach was not hidden. In its May playtest update, Guerrilla said it was using small groups to focus on the core experience and apply player feedback before inviting larger numbers. The studio added new Hunters, an episode, and a region for that test. In other words, playtesting was part of the plan from the beginning; the reported reset is notable because the feedback apparently reached the game's basic structure.
The report includes a December evaluation
The Aug. 19 report, citing Bloomberg and sources familiar with PlayStation's plans, says the live-service component is being stripped out and the project is being reshaped into a more traditional co-op game with a story mode and smaller scope. It says staff have until December to show executives that Horizon Hunters Gathering should remain in active development, while many assigned staff may reportedly move to another project that will also be evaluated at the end of the year.
Those details come from anonymous sources, and neither Sony nor Guerrilla has confirmed them. Still, removing a live-service layer is not the same as tuning a weapon or changing a mission. A service game needs recurring content, long-term progression, a large player population, and a business model that can support updates for years. A focused co-op game can keep the machine hunts and character abilities without asking players to treat Horizon as a permanent second job.
Sony still has a reason to keep trying online games
Sony's online push is not failing across the board. In an August 12 announcement, Sony Interactive Entertainment said Helldivers 2 had welcomed more than 22.9 million players across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC as of August 9, 2026. That is a real success for a co-op game built around shared missions, unpredictable fights, and a community that can shape what happens next.
The problem is treating that success as a universal recipe. Helldivers 2 had a simple social promise: drop in with friends, make a mess, and tell stories about the mission afterward. Horizon Hunters Gathering is coming from a series known for detailed single-player characters, long quests, and a world built around Aloy's journey. A multiplayer version can be good, but it has to give players a reason to spend time there that is not just the logo on the menu.
Horizon is not just another online game
The Horizon name gives Guerrilla a head start, but it also raises the cost of a wrong turn. Players who want the next single-player adventure may not be asking for a service game at all. Players who do want co-op still need combat and progression that feel natural with friends, not systems designed mainly to keep a calendar full.
Sony has already experienced the downside of launching an online project that cannot find its audience. Concord was removed from sale and taken offline in 2024, a public failure that made every later live-service announcement easier to scrutinize. Horizon Hunters Gathering does not have the same launch history, but the comparison explains why a private playtest can lead to a hard reset instead of a quiet list of improvements.
A smaller co-op game could be the better answer
The reported rework may end up helping the game. A smaller campaign with repeatable machine hunts could fit Horizon better than a full service structure, especially if Guerrilla can keep the world, character differences, and tactical combat that make the series recognizable. That is an inference, not a confirmed description of Sony's final plan.
The risk for Sony is not that every online game will fail. It is that the company keeps choosing established single-player series before proving why they need a service model. Helldivers 2 gives Sony a reason to keep investing, but Horizon Hunters Gathering now shows how quickly that strategy can be forced to change.
Until Sony or Guerrilla confirms the change, Horizon Hunters Gathering should be described as a reported redesign, not a canceled game or a confirmed smaller co-op release. The official listing still shows PS5 and PC, supports up to three players, and gives no release date.
