PlayStation Horizon is Revamping Hunters Gathering

Things haven’t gone quite as planned on the multiplayer side of the Horizon universe. After two closed tests of Horizon Hunters Gathering, developed by Guerrilla Games, the feedback wasn’t positive enough, so the team started reworking the game. The biggest change seems to be on the live-service side of the project. Frankly, considering PlayStation’s track record in this area in recent years, this decision isn’t very surprising.

Horizon Hunters Gathering Will Be Smaller and More Story-Focused

According to the new report, the team has been reshaping the game since June. While a long-term live-service structure was previously planned, this system is now being considered for complete removal. It will be replaced by a more traditional co-op experience, a story mode, and a more limited scope.

It’s said that negative feedback from closed-source tests is directly behind this change. In other words, Guerrilla Games decided to fundamentally alter the game’s direction instead of just making a few minor balance adjustments. This indicates that the project is still quite early and in a volatile phase.

The critical aspect is that the team has until December to finalize the new version. According to the report, the developers need to convince management by the end of the year. During this time, some team members will be moved to other projects, and the situation will be re-evaluated at the end of the year.

Previously, PlayStation’s live-service projects, such as The Last of Us, God of War, and Spider-Man, were canceled. Therefore, the change in direction for Horizon Hunters Gathering can be seen as a continuation of the company’s overall strategic problems. While the game isn’t canceled yet, it seems Horizon Hunters Gathering will no longer continue in its original form. The new version is planned to be a smaller, more controlled, and story-driven co-op experience.

Read More: A Crazy Amount of Money was Spent on the Canceled The Last of Us Online