News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key developers. Let's delve into the details.

NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects

South Korean news outlet MTN reported on January 13, 2025, that NCSoft, a major developer and publisher of MMORPGs like the Lineage and Guild Wars franchises, canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision stems from an internal "feasibility review," according to the report. Besides "Project H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly canceled, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under review.

The MTN report further indicated that developers directly involved with "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 regarding this report, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. Whether another publisher or development team will pick up the project is currently unknown.

However, there's still hope for Horizon fans on the multiplayer front.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon "Online Project"

Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, confirmed their work on a separate online project within the Horizon universe in a December 16, 2022, Twitter (X) post. They've been actively recruiting developers since then, hinting at a unique experience featuring "a new cast of characters and a unique stylized look."

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer further illuminated the project, specifying the need to design "multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players." This suggests larger, more challenging machines designed for multiplayer combat.

A recent January 2025 job posting for a Senior Platform Engineer reveals Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base of over one million for this unnamed multiplayer title. The requirement for experience with "1M+ globally distributed systems" strongly suggests a significant online presence. While details remain scarce, this project, developed internally by Sony, appears to be progressing independently of the canceled NCSoft endeavor.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic global partnership with NCSoft, combining NCSoft's technological expertise with Sony's global entertainment reach. Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SIE, stated that this partnership would help expand PlayStation's reach to a wider audience. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG might not be part of this collaboration, the partnership could pave the way for other Sony titles to reach mobile platforms in the future.