Sony may cancel Horizon live service game

Sony’s latest attempt to crack the live-service gaming market may be over before it officially launches. The company’s upcoming title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, is reportedly at risk, with executives set to evaluate its future by December.

From live service to co-op: A last-minute pivot

Originally designed as a live-service spinoff of the Horizon franchise, Horizon Hunters Gathering was meant to blend co-op multiplayer with the series’ post-apocalyptic world. Developed by Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the single-player Horizon series, the game was Sony’s latest bid to compete in a market dominated by titles like Destiny 2 and Fortnite.

But internal feedback from private beta tests was harsh. According to sources, Sony executives have already removed the live-service elements, scaling back the project into a more traditional co-op experience. The game’s scope has been reduced, and a story mode has been reinstated. The shift reflects Sony’s broader challenges in adapting its single-player-focused franchises into ongoing, monetized live-service models.

The game’s design originally included predefined hunter classes, a roguelite perk system, and cross-platform play for up to three players on PS5 and Windows. Those features remain, though the game’s ambitions have been scaled back. The question is whether the revised version can salvage the project—or if it’s already too late.

A December deadline looms

Guerrilla’s team has until December to deliver a build that satisfies Sony’s leadership. If it falls short, the studio could face the same fate as Concord, the multiplayer shooter canceled earlier this year after a disastrous launch. Most developers on Horizon Hunters Gathering would likely be reassigned to another project, which will also undergo a key evaluation phase by the end of the year.

The stakes are high. Sony has invested years—and hundreds of millions of dollars—into failed live-service experiments. After Concord’s collapse, the company scrapped similar projects tied to God of War, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us. Even Bungie, acquired by Sony to bolster its live-service ambitions, has struggled with its Marathon extraction shooter.

For now, Horizon Hunters Gathering remains in limbo. A small team at Guerrilla is still working on the next mainline Horizon game, though that project is years away from release. If Hunters Gathering is canceled, it would mark another setback in Sony’s efforts to redefine its gaming business.

The company’s pattern is clear: live-service games demand a different audience, one that expects constant updates, seasonal content, and microtransactions. Sony’s core fanbase, however, has shown little appetite for that model. Whether the December evaluation changes that dynamic—or simply confirms another setback—remains to be seen.

If the game does survive, it may emerge as something far smaller than originally planned.