Sony is reportedly scaling back the live service aspects of its upcoming PlayStation 5 game Horizon Hunters Gathering, according to a Bloomberg report. Following disappointing feedback during private testing phases, developer Guerrilla Games has been tasked with rebooting the project since June, refocusing the design away from a live service model.
Sources indicate that Guerrilla will remove the live service elements from Horizon Hunters Gathering to reshape it as a more conventional cooperative multiplayer game with a story mode. The project has consequently undergone a considerable reduction in scope. Sony executives have given Guerrilla until December to demonstrate progress on this revised approach.
Impact on Horizon Hunters Gathering and PlayStation Players
The transition away from a live service structure represents a notable shift in what PlayStation 5 players can expect from Horizon Hunters Gathering. Instead of ongoing content updates and persistent multiplayer worlds characteristic of live services, the game will move toward a traditional co-op experience combined with narrative-driven elements. This may affect players anticipating the originally planned long-term, evolving gameplay.
This development reflects continued challenges for Sony in delivering new live service exclusive titles on PlayStation platforms. The decision to downscale and reboot the game suggests a reassessment of the viability of live service models within key PlayStation franchises.
Development Timeline and Next Steps
Guerrilla Games has been revising Horizon Hunters Gathering over the past few months and faces a deadline of December to convince Sony of the updated vision for the game. Further details on platform availability beyond PlayStation 5 have not been disclosed. The removal of live service components will likely influence the release timeline and the nature of post-launch support for the title.
At present, Sony and Guerrilla have not released an official statement regarding these changes. The move to a reduced scope co-op format aligns Horizon Hunters Gathering more closely with traditional multiplayer structures on consoles, differing from the earlier live service ambitions.
