Horizon MMO Canceled by NCSoft

NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"

News broke on January 13, 2025, via South Korean news outlet MTN, that NCSoft had canceled several projects, including a highly anticipated Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H." This decision follows a company-wide "feasibility review." The report also states that NCSoft canceled another project, codenamed "J," and that the "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") project remains under evaluation.

The cancellation of "Project H" is further substantiated by the departure of key developers from NCSoft. Remaining team members have reportedly been reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart solidifies their termination.

Neither Sony nor NCSoft have issued official statements regarding this development. The future of "Project H" remains uncertain, with no confirmation on whether another publisher or development team will acquire the project's assets.

Guerrilla Games' Separate Horizon Online Project Remains Active

Despite the NCSoft cancellation, Guerrilla Games continues its development of a separate Horizon online project, first announced in December 2022. Their December 2022 Twitter(X) post confirmed their work on "a separate Online Project set in Horizon’s universe," featuring a new cast and unique art style.

Further evidence of this ongoing project includes a November 2023 job posting for a Senior Combat Designer, specifically mentioning the design of challenging multi-player machine enemies. A recent January 2025 job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer indicates an anticipated player base of over one million.

This suggests a significant online component, potentially a large-scale multiplayer game developed internally by Sony rather than NCSoft.

Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership

The November 28, 2023, announcement of a strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft adds another layer to this situation. While the Horizon MMORPG may not materialize, this collaboration could open avenues for Sony to expand its reach into mobile gaming and other online platforms.