NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMO

News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of several key developers. 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—the renowned developer and publisher behind the Lineage and Guild Wars franchises—canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision stems from an internal "feasibility review," which also resulted in the cancellation of projects codenamed "J." Another project, "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage"), remains under review.

The MTN report further indicates that the developers working on "Project H" left NCSoft. Remaining team members 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 neither Sony nor NCSoft have issued official statements, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain, with no word yet on whether another developer might pick up the project.

However, fans of the Horizon universe shouldn't despair entirely.

Guerrilla Games' Horizon "Online Project" Remains in Development

Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, has been actively developing a separate online project within the Horizon universe since at least 2022. A December 16, 2022, Twitter (X) post confirmed their pursuit of developers to join their Amsterdam team for this "Online Project," teasing a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.

Further evidence of this project's continued development surfaced in a November 2023 job posting for a Senior Combat Designer. This posting highlighted the need to design challenging machine enemies for multiple players, hinting at a robust multiplayer experience. A more recent job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer in January 2025, specifying experience with "1M+ globally distributed systems," suggests Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base of over one million. While details remain scarce, this project appears to be a Sony internal development rather than a collaboration with NCSoft.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic global partnership with NCSoft on November 28, 2023. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG won't be a part of this partnership, it opens possibilities for future collaborations and potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms.