Sony and NCSoft reveal Horizon Steel Frontiers MMORPG for mobile and PC

A New Era for Horizon: Sony and NCSoft Unveil MMORPG for Mobile and PC

The beloved post-apocalyptic world of Horizon, brimming with majestic robotic creatures and a desperate fight for survival, is set to expand into a new genre. Sony, in collaboration with NCSoft, the esteemed creators behind the legendary Lineage series, has officially announced 'Horizon Steel Frontiers.' This ambitious title marks the franchise's foray into the Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) space, promising a fresh and expansive experience for fans worldwide.

Mobile-First, PC-Ready: The 'Steel Frontiers' Vision

Designed with mobile devices as its primary platform, 'Horizon Steel Frontiers' will also grace PC players through NCSoft's proprietary PURPLE platform. This dual approach aims to make the vastness of the Horizon universe accessible to a broader audience. During a captivating reveal at the G-Star 2025 expo in Korea, over two minutes of gameplay footage offered a tantalizing glimpse into what players can expect. Developers emphasized that this is not a watered-down experience, but a fully-fledged MMO where every player embodies a Hunter in the perilous 'Deadlands' region.

Deep Gameplay Mechanics and Cooperative Mayhem

The core of 'Horizon Steel Frontiers' lies in its robust gameplay. Players will engage in thrilling battles against formidable mechanical beasts, with a significant emphasis on deep character customization. The freedom to choose your gear, playstyle, and engage in various activities ensures a highly personalized journey. Much like its single-player predecessors, strategic combat will be paramount. However, the MMO iteration transforms this into a thrilling cooperative endeavor. Imagine coordinated assaults where one player deploys a formidable 'Thunderjaw' weapon, another strategically disables enemy defenses, a third sets cunning traps, and a healer keeps the team in the fight – a true testament to teamwork, reminiscent of high-level raids in titles like Guild Wars 2. While solo play is still an option, the true power lies in unity, a philosophy deeply ingrained in NCSoft's MMORPG heritage.

A Familiar World, A New Frontier

The new region, aptly named the 'Deadlands,' serves as the backdrop for this unfolding narrative. While the exact placement within the Horizon timeline remains a mystery, and the appearance of familiar characters like Aloy is yet to be confirmed, the essence of Horizon combat is being reimagined for a multiplayer context. The meticulous approach to exploiting machine weak points and utilizing the environment, so crucial in 'Horizon Zero Dawn' and 'Horizon Forbidden West,' is now woven into the fabric of cooperative questing. The gameplay demonstration drew comparisons to the challenging hunts of 'Monster Hunter,' albeit with the iconic robotic fauna of the Horizon universe replacing dragons.

Development Synergy and Future Outlook

Crucially, Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Horizon series, is actively involved in the development of 'Horizon Steel Frontiers.' This close collaboration ensures that the game remains true to the spirit and lore of the franchise, even as it ventures into new territory. The announcement follows earlier discussions about multiplayer components in future Horizon titles, solidifying 'Steel Frontiers' as a significant step in that direction. While initial reports focused on the mobile and PC versions, with no mention of console releases, the developers are committed to a global launch. Details regarding monetization models, such as a free-to-play structure, the implementation of regional servers, and plans for beta testing, are expected to be revealed at a later date.