Ethan Crossfield 
Guerrilla Games' next publicly announced Horizon project is reportedly at a critical crossroads. A report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says PlayStation is pushing the studio to reshape Horizon Hunters Gathering after negative player-testing feedback, with the game facing cancellation if its next major milestone does not satisfy executives by December 2026.
What happened to Horizon Hunters Gathering
Horizon Hunters Gathering was originally presented as a live-service multiplayer game built around seasonal content. Players would select different Hunters, form three-person squads, and fight the Machine Threats that define the Horizon universe. According to the report, Guerrilla has been working on a redesign since June.
The current direction reportedly removes the live-service structure and narrows the project into a more traditional co-op experience. That would represent a significant reduction in scope, turning a game designed to support ongoing seasons into a more contained spin-off. The project has not been officially canceled, but a staff meeting reportedly made clear that the team has until December to deliver a milestone that changes PlayStation's assessment.
Why the report matters for Guerrilla and Horizon
The situation is notable because Horizon is one of PlayStation's most recognizable modern franchises. Horizon Zero Dawn introduced Aloy in 2017, while Horizon Forbidden West continued the series in 2022. Despite the popularity of both games, their release timing and the wider fatigue surrounding large open-world titles may have limited their momentum compared with PlayStation's biggest brands.
The multiplayer project has also affected the development path of the series' expected third single-player entry. Sources cited in the report say that most of Guerrilla's developers moved onto Horizon Hunters Gathering after Forbidden West, leaving only a small team on Horizon 3. As a result, the next mainline game is described as years away, even though Forbidden West ended on a major cliffhanger.
The report also places the project within PlayStation's broader live-service push. The company had once targeted 12 live-service releases by March 2026, but several projects have reportedly been canceled, including live-service versions of Spider-Man and God of War. A major overhaul or cancellation of Horizon Hunters Gathering would further demonstrate how difficult that strategy has been to execute.
What to watch next
The immediate focus is the next development milestone and whether PlayStation considers the redesigned co-op format commercially and creatively convincing. The December deadline does not guarantee cancellation, but it indicates that the project has little room for another disappointing evaluation.
Players should also watch for reassignment news within Guerrilla later this year. Any staff movement could reveal whether the studio is preparing for a smaller Horizon multiplayer release, redirecting resources toward Horizon 3, or winding down the project entirely. Until PlayStation or Guerrilla makes a formal announcement, the game's final structure and status remain unconfirmed.
Key takeaways
- Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly being redesigned after negative player-testing feedback.
- The planned live-service model may be replaced by a smaller, traditional co-op game.
- Guerrilla reportedly has until December 2026 to meet PlayStation's next major milestone.
- Horizon 3 is still years away and has had only a small team assigned to it.
- The project's fate remains unconfirmed until PlayStation or Guerrilla announces a decision.
Expert View
The reported pivot exposes the risk of building a long-term service around a franchise whose strongest identity is rooted in single-player exploration and storytelling. A smaller co-op game could be a more realistic fit for Horizon than an ongoing seasonal platform, but the timing is damaging: Guerrilla has already spent years on the project while Horizon 3 remains distant. For players, the best outcome may be a focused game that reaches release without forcing the series into a service model it does not need.
