Sony’s Horizon MMO Announced: Watch the Trailer
▼ Summary
– Sony and NCSoft are developing Horizon Steel Frontiers, a cross-platform MMO for PC, iOS, and Android that will be free to play.
– The game is a full-fledged MMORPG focused on cooperative and competitive hunting of giant mechanical beasts in a post-apocalyptic world.
– Players will create their own characters instead of playing as Aloy, with customization features and a setting inspired by Arizona and New Mexico.
– New combat mechanics include picking up weapons dropped by machines and carrying them on mounts for use in future battles.
– No release date has been announced, but the developers are working to make the game available as soon as possible.
Sony has officially confirmed the development of a new massively multiplayer online game set within its popular Horizon universe. The project, titled Horizon Steel Frontiers, is being created through a collaboration between Sony and Korean game developer NCSoft. Designed as a cross-platform experience, the game will be available on PC, iOS, and Android devices and will operate on a free-to-play model. This announcement confirms earlier rumors and leaks that had begun circulating online.
The official reveal included a comprehensive video featuring a blend of cinematic scenes and pre-alpha gameplay footage, alongside commentary from the developers. The core gameplay loop appears to center on the series’ signature activity: hunting giant mechanical beasts. A key difference is that these hunts will now be a social experience, allowing players to team up with others to take down the colossal machines. The video also showcased players exploring vibrant natural landscapes and the decaying metal structures familiar to fans of the Horizon series.
The existence of Horizon Steel Frontiers first came to light when promotional materials were discovered on a media asset website prior to its formal announcement at the G-Star 2025 event in Korea. These assets included a publicly accessible video link, giving an early look at the game.
According to Jan-Bart van Beek, studio director at PlayStation’s Guerilla Games, this title is a “full-fledged MMORPG” built from the ground up for mobile platforms. He emphasized the game’s accessibility, stating, “With Steel Frontiers, you can step into this world anywhere, anytime.” Players will assume the role of machine hunters in a region known as the Deathlands, which draws inspiration from the landscapes of Arizona and New Mexico. This frontier is shared with thousands of other players, creating a dynamic environment where cooperation and competition coexist. Players will sometimes join forces to defeat machines, while at other times they may find themselves competing with rival tribes or battling over scarce resources.
The thrill of taking down colossal machines was highlighted by executive producer Sung-Gu Lee as the central concept of the game. He noted that the team is introducing new combat mechanics to enrich this experience. For instance, players will be able to pick up weapons dropped by defeated beasts and carry them on their mounts for use in future encounters. A separate gameplay trailer was released on the official Horizon Steel Frontiers YouTube channel, offering a closer look at these intense battles.
A significant departure from the mainline series is the introduction of deep character customization. Instead of controlling the established protagonist, Aloy, players will have the freedom to create and develop their own unique character within the world.
While Sony and NCSoft have not yet provided a specific release date for Horizon Steel Frontiers, Lee indicated in the announcement that the development team is working diligently to make the game available to players “as soon as possible.”
(Source: The Verge)
