Horizon Hunters Gathering reportedly delays Horizon 3, as Sony prioritizes multiplayer PS5 game

Sony has cancelled several live-service multiplayer games, including a God of War title in 2025. However, it continues to explore these potentially lucrative online-focused endeavors. After announcing the tactical co-op Horizon Hunters Gathering, a new report suggests Horizon 3 won’t debut anytime soon.

The Horizon Hunters effect

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier responded to a question about the development of the next mainline Horizon. According to the reliable insider, “most of the studio” is involved with the upcoming Horizon Hunters. Some gamers believed that Guerrilla Games had dedicated only a small team to the project. If that’s not the case, fans of narrative-driven adventures have reason to worry.

The studio previously stated that Horizon 3 was in the works, but didn’t estimate a release date. Looking at the series’ history, Horizon Zero Dawn, the first entry, appeared in 2017. In 2022, Horizon Forbidden West followed initially as a PS4 and PS5 game. Although spin-offs and even an MMORPG then surfaced, there were hopes that a new single-player title would arrive as soon as 2027.

There are concerns that the game may not be ready until after the PS6 ships. Critics are blaming Sony’s enormous investment in the multiplayer arena. Helldivers 2 is a success story, but Concord was a notable flop. Bungie’s extraction shooter, Marathon, now must overcome a troubled development cycle.

Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2022, which also produces Destiny, signaled a shift away from solo experiences. Guerrilla Games confirmed an online title was incoming late in that same year. Even so, Horizon Hunters Gathering existed even before it completed Forbidden West.

Why doesn't Sony publish more solo exclusives?

Regardless of the motivation, bewildered PlayStation supporters don't understand the potential Horizon 3 release date delay. There is intense competition among live-service PS5 games. Many multi-platform efforts, like Highguard, fail to entice audiences and quickly die out. Meanwhile, Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yōtei are among the timed single-player exclusives that have notched impressive sales.

With a large following of the open-world RPG franchise, Horizon 3 may be a safer bet. Nevertheless, Horizon Hunters has the potential to generate consistent revenue long after its release.