Horizon 3 is still a long way off, according to a well-known industry insider. While the threequel was already teased years ago, it's now clear that it's taking a backseat to Guerrilla Games' recently announced Horizon collaborative title.
The guerilla teased first Horizon 3 back in April 2023, shortly after the launch of Horizon Call of the Mountain. At the time, a blog post from the Dutch studio confirmed that the company would be expanding Horizon universe with “Aloy's Next Adventure” and a separate “online project”. Almost three years later, that online project was announced in the form of Horizon Hunters Gatheringa co-op action game for up to three players. However, Horizon 3 still nowhere to be seen.
Horizon 3 is all-but-confirmed to continue a divisive trend for the series
Guerrilla Games' upcoming Horizon 3 may continue to have a divisive aspect from Horizon Forbidden West's new factions and machines.
Most guerilla games are reportedly focused on Horizon Hunters Gathering
As it currently stands, it is Horizon 3 announcement not coming soon. That's according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, a journalist with a long track record of reliable insights into how various SIE studios operate. When he took to Bluesky on February 5, Schreier said that, as far as he knows, most of Guerrilla Games are currently focused on Horizon Hunters Gathering. In response to a follow-up question as to whether Horizon 3 is still a long way off under those circumstances, Schreier replied in the affirmative.
Horizon Hunters Gathering has polarized fans since its reveal
The revelation that Hunters gather essentially diverting development resources from Horizon 3 will likely be met with disappointment among some fans, especially given the mixed response to the co-op game's recent reveal. On major social media platforms and in the comments section of Sony's official PlayStation blog, many users have expressed skepticism Horizon Hunters Gathering. Concerns cited include fatigue with live service games and concerns that Sony is steering yet another traditionally single-player studio towards multiplayer development, especially after many recent PlayStation failures in the live service segment.
“Legitimately don't think there is a single Horizon fan on the planet who would prefer this Fortnite knockoff to the next mainline,” one Reddit user wrote in response to Schreier's recent comments. Another voiced stronger criticism, saying, “every live service game consumes money, time and staff that could be used to create games that are actually worth it, not just a simple money game.” Other complaints currently circulating online focus on the game's shift away from the series' signature photorealistic art style towards a more stylized aesthetic, as well as concerns about the project's potential impact on the development of Horizon 3— a concern that Schreier's latest insights seem to support.
Horizon Co-Op games also generated some positive buzz
Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.
Start
Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.
Light (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Public skepticism aside, not all online reactions to Horizon Hunters Gathering have been negative. Some fans have described the core premise of the co-op scavenger hunt as promising, saying they're intrigued by the possibility of Monster Hunter-as Horizon game. Others have praised Guerilla's early confirmation of features such as crossplay, cross-progression and the ability to play solo.
Horizon 3 probably won't launch before the PlayStation 6
Given the Guerrilla's reported focus on Hunters gatherit seems unlikely Horizon 3 will be ready for release in the next few years. As a result, the next main entry in the post-apocalyptic franchise will most likely come during the PlayStation 6 generation. Until recently, the PS6 was rumored to be targeting a late 2027 release. However, the recent RAM shortage – which has driven up memory prices across all major supply chains – could prompt Sony to delay the next console generation until 2028 or later, pending component costs. Meanwhile, Guerrilla has several unanswered questions about Horizon Hunters Gathering to take up. For example, the developer has yet to provide any details on the game's pricing or expected launch window.
Source: Cynical_onlooker / Reddit, NaitDraik / Reddit
