News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key development staff. 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—a prominent developer and publisher behind franchises like Lineage and Guild Wars—canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. The cancellation, part of a broader "feasibility review," also reportedly affected a project codenamed "J," while another, "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage"), remains under evaluation.

MTN further reported that developers working on "Project H" left NCSoft. Remaining staff have reportedly 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 Sony and NCSoft haven't issued official statements, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain; whether another team will pick up development is currently unknown.

However, the news isn't entirely bleak for Horizon fans. Guerrilla Games is actively pursuing a separate online Horizon experience.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon "Online Project"

Guerrilla Games publicly expressed their intention to develop an online Horizon project in a December 16, 2022, Twitter(X) post. They've been actively recruiting developers for "a separate Online Project set in Horizon’s universe," featuring "a new cast of characters and a unique stylized look."

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer highlighted the development of "multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players," suggesting a significant multiplayer component and potentially larger, more formidable machines than seen previously.

Further reinforcing the scale of this project, a recent job posting for a Senior Platform Engineer seeks an individual with experience in "building and operating multi-service, 1M+ globally distributed systems," indicating an anticipated player base of over one million. While details remain scarce, this project, internally developed by Sony, appears to be progressing steadily.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a "strategic global partnership" with NCSoft on November 28, 2023, aiming to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG won't materialize through this partnership, it opens doors for potential collaborations on other Sony titles for mobile platforms.