The Horizon universe takes a major turn with the introduction of Horizon Hunters GatheringA new cooperative action game that abandons Aloy's traditional solo adventures in favor of group hunts. Developed by Guerrilla and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the project will be released in PS5 and PCalthough for now it still has no confirmed release date.
This new multiplayer title proposes that even Three players join together as hunters to stand up to a world dominated by lethal machines. It maintains the tactical emphasis and precision of the combat that characterize the franchise, but adapts them to a structure designed for cooperative play, with a clear focus on the replayability, player coordination, and challenging hunts.
A cooperative project that Guerrilla had been developing for years
The idea of ​​allowing multiple players hunt machines as a team It's been around the studio since the early stages of creating the world of Horizon. Guerrilla explains that the project started with a small internal group who began experimenting with cooperative gameplay concepts, drawing on the multiplayer experience of Killzone as in the boost that the success of Horizon Zero Dawn.
Over the years, The team and the ambition of the game have grown until it became a full-fledged production with its own in-house development team. During this stage, numerous internal tests, adjustments, and patches were implemented, refining the design based on feedback from the developers themselves. Some team members noted that the first full playtests at the studio were a milestone, finally seeing that Horizon's cooperative vision could be played solidly.
Guerrilla emphasizes that the Multiplayer games are part of the DNA from the studio, and that many of its creatives began their careers working precisely on online experiences. Therefore, Horizon Hunters Gathering is seen internally as a logical but also challenging step: a way to bring the Horizon universe to a more social, competitive, and collaborative environment.
The study insists that this is a project fully canonical within the Horizon timelineDeveloped in parallel with the upcoming third main installment. Although its exact position in the timeline hasn't been specified, they assure that it fits within the established lore and that its story will expand over time, similar to other spin-offs such as Horizon call of the mountain.
Tactical action for three players on PS5 and PC
In terms of gameplay, Horizon Hunters Gathering is defined as a cooperative action game for up to three players, focused on encounters against highly dangerous machines. The combat maintains the tactical essence of the series: skill is rewarded marksmanship, knowledge of each enemy's weaknesses, and intelligent use of the environmentBut now the importance of coordination between the different roles of the team is added.
The title will be available in PS5 and PC, with support for cross-play and cross-progressionAs long as the same PlayStation account is used, players can switch between both platforms while retaining their progress, equipment, and hunter customizations. This approach is especially relevant in Europe and Spain, where the PC and console user base is fairly balanced, and cross-play makes it easy to play with friends regardless of the device.
One of the most striking aspects is that the game adopts a different artistic direction, more stylized and closer to a cartoonish touchMoving away from the hyper-realistic style of Aloy's main adventures, the goal is to adapt the aesthetic to the cooperative gameplay and on-screen readability when multiple effects, machines, and abilities are in action.
Far from being limited to a generic horde mode, Guerrilla wants each hunt to feel like a structured mission with clear objectives, tactical decisions, and risk-reward analysisTherefore, several game modes have been designed, with itineraries, rooms, and events that change from game to game to encourage teams to repeat missions and try different combinations of hunters and upgrades.
Game modes: Machine Raid and Descent into the Cauldron
The basis of the experience is intense and repeatable huntsThe announcement confirms two main modes that will be available in the initial testing phase and that will form the core of the cooperative design.
On one side is Machine Incursion, a high-intensity mission in which the group faces waves of machines emerging from underground exits or portalsThe objective is to withstand the pressure from enemies and manage resources until reaching a confrontation with an enemy. especially dangerous final bosswhich requires synchronizing the skills of each hunter well.
The second confirmed mode is Cauldron Descenta longer challenge divided into several phases connected by rooms that are reconfigured in each gameThese areas contain everything from particularly tough battles to secret doors and alternate routes that lead to more valuable rewards, power upgrades, and advanced equipmentin exchange for assuming additional risks.
Both modalities share the objective of encourage replayabilityBut each one does so from a different perspective: Machine Incursion rewards resilience and wave management, while Descent into the Cauldron focuses more on decision-making and exploring different paths within the same overall mission structure.
These two modes will be available in the closed playtest which will be held in the coming weeks and will serve Guerrilla to gather data, adjust the difficulty, polish the reward economy and test what type of enemy and room combination works best with teams of three players.
Hunters with their own personality and a roguelite progression system
Instead of controlling Aloy, players will embody a cast of hunters with very distinct identitiesEach of them has their own own motivations, internal conflicts and fighting styleThis will be reflected both in the narrative and in their skills and weapons.
The hunters are divided into complementary roles within the teamSome characters are more focused on direct damage, others on crowd control or supporting their teammates, so the group's composition decisively influences how each mission is approached. This distribution of roles is reinforced by a roguelite cutting advantages and improvements systemwhich allows you to build different configurations or builds depending on the needs of the game.
Each run or hunt offers the possibility of choose upgrades, perks, and equipment modifications that change how each hunter performs. Thus, the same character can specialize in melee combat, precise ranged shooting, or tactical support, depending on the decisions made during the game.
This system aims to have players experiment and repeat missions, testing different combinations of hunters, roles, and upgradesFor the European and Spanish audience that enjoys online cooperative games, accustomed to titles with a strong component of build theory, this layer of depth could become one of the game's biggest attractions.
Beyond the statistics, Guerrilla has emphasized that each hunter should have a unique and recognizable backgroundPersonal motivations and relationships between them are explored through the campaign and narrative events, creating a cast that expands the vision of the Horizon world beyond the figure of Aloy and the tribes already known in the main installments.
Canonical campaign and new mysteries in the world of Horizon
Although the focus is on cooperative action, Horizon Hunters Gathering does not forgo the narrative that characterizes the franchiseThe game will include a campaign with its own history, designed to be played in company but integrated into the official chronology of the Horizon universe.
Guerrilla has announced that this campaign will feature new characters, unprecedented threats, and mysteries yet to be resolved, but for now they have preferred to keep most of the details secret. What they have made clear is that the plot It will not be limited to the launchbut is designed to expand over time through content updates, events, and possibly new hunts with narrative relevance.
It is, therefore, a living project in the medium and long termIn this approach, the story unfolds alongside balance adjustments, the addition of new hunters, and the expansion of the game world and environments. For those who closely follow Horizon's lore, this approach offers the opportunity to see how certain aspects of the world evolve through a more collaborative and cooperative lens.
The studio points out that they have already experimented with different approaches within the saga, such as the virtual reality title. Horizon call of the mountain or the remaster of Horizon Zero Dawnbut they insist that Hunters Gathering represents a more marked shift towards the multiplayer aspect and towards a different way of telling stories within the same universe.
For players who prefer purely solo experiences, Guerrilla admits that this approach may feel less traditional, since the Free exploration gives way to structured missions and the need to coordinate with two other usersEven so, they are confident that the narrative, the level design, and the progression of the hunters will maintain the interest of those who approach Horizon for its world and its story.
Scenarios, machines and the Hunters Gathering social hub
The hunts lead the players to a variety of natural and technological environments that seek to maintain the franchise's distinctive visual style, adapted to the new artistic approach. Each area has been designed with Specific challenges, limited exploration opportunities, and alternative routes that can make the difference between completing the mission or falling short.
The Machines are once again the main enemyWith familiar variants and brand-new creatures that test both combat proficiency and group coordination, maintaining control of the terrain, using traps, and exploiting the weaknesses of each machine type remains crucial, but now enemies adapt to the simultaneous presence of three hunters, forcing a rethink of common strategies from previous installments.
Between missions, the players return to Hunters Gathering, the game's social hubThis space functions as a nerve center where one can interact with other users, prepare hunts, customize hunters, improve equipment, and visit merchants to acquire resources or modify weapons and armor.
This hub also fulfills a community function, by becoming a meeting point to organize groups, discuss strategies or simply socialize before heading out on missions again. It's a familiar approach for those who have played other cooperative titles, but here it's integrated into Horizon's aesthetic and lore, reinforcing the feeling of being part of a community of hunters within the game world itself.
To support this social aspect beyond the game itself, Guerrilla has launched a Official Discord server of Horizon Hunters Gatheringwhich will serve as a channel to share news, coordinate playtests and gather feedback from the European and global community as development progresses.
Closed beta, cross-play, and the role of the community
One of the pillars of the development of Horizon Hunters Gathering is the playtesting with real playersGuerrilla has confirmed that it will take place a first playtest closed at the end of February, available on both PS5 and PC via the PlayStation Beta Program.
This initial beta will be reduced scaleThe aim is to obtain concrete data on mission balance, performance, and flow before expanding the number of participants in future tests. Those interested can sign up for the PlayStation beta program and indicate your specific interest in participating in the Horizon Hunters Gathering trials on either platform.
The title will feature Cross-play between PS5 and PC and cross-save through the PlayStation account, a particularly relevant feature in a market like Europe, where many players switch between both platforms or have friends spread between console and PC. Guerrilla believes this flexibility is key to building a solid multiplayer user base.
Over the next few months, the study plans publish regular development updates and announce new rounds of testing, adjusting the design based on the feedback received. The project is thus presented as an experience built jointly with the communitywhere player opinions will influence aspects such as the difficulty of hunts, the pace of progression, and the variety of rewards.
For fans of the saga in Spain and the rest of Europe, this trial period will be an opportunity to Experience Horizon's cooperative twist firsthand. and to see how the formula adapts to shorter, more intense and replayable games, far removed from the traditional open-world adventure format.
With everything announced, Horizon Hunters Gathering is shaping up to be Guerrilla's big cooperative bet within the Horizon universeA canonical project that combines tactical combat, roguelite progression, a narrative campaign, and a strong social component. It remains to be seen how it will resonate with those who have followed Aloy's adventures for years and with European players who enjoy team-based gameplay, but the studio seems determined to build this new chapter by listening closely to the community and relying on an intensive program of testing and long-term updates.
