NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"
NCSoft's plans for a Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," have been cancelled, according to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN. The cancellation follows a company-wide "feasibility review" that also resulted in the termination of other projects, including one codenamed "J." The report further indicates that key developers working on "Project H" departed NCSoft, with remaining team members reassigned to different projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart solidifies the cancellations.
While NCSoft and Sony have yet to officially comment, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. The possibility of another publisher or development team taking over the project is currently unknown.
A Separate Horizon Multiplayer Game Remains in Development
Despite the cancellation of the NCSoft project, Guerrilla Games continues its work on a separate Horizon online multiplayer game, referred to as the "Online Project." Initially announced on December 16, 2022, via a Twitter(X) post, the project is actively recruiting developers. Job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023, highlight the development of new, challenging machines designed for multiplayer combat. A recent January 2025 job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer suggests the game anticipates a player base exceeding one million.
The scale of this project, and its focus on a large player base, indicates a significant undertaking by Guerrilla Games. This game, developed internally by Sony, may represent a shift away from the previously planned NCSoft collaboration.
Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership
The November 28, 2023 announcement of a strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft aimed to combine NCSoft's technological expertise with Sony's global reach. While the cancelled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership might open doors for other Sony titles to expand into the mobile gaming market.
