Horizon MMO Confirmed: New Cross-Platform Game ‘Steel Frontiers’ Announced for PC and Mobile

Guerilla Games and NCSOFT have officially announced a new Horizon MMO. The game is titled “Horizon Steel Frontiers.” This confirmation came after an internal developer conference leak forced an early reveal. The official trailer is now available for public viewing.This partnership merges Guerilla’s acclaimed world-building with NCSOFT’s extensive MMO expertise. The project signals a major expansion for the Horizon franchise beyond traditional console and PC single-player experiences.

Gameplay and Setting Details for Steel Frontiers

Horizon Steel Frontiers will be a cross-platform experience. It is designed for mobile devices and PC. This strategy aims to make the vast Horizon world accessible to a broader audience. According to the official announcement, the game takes place in a new region called the Deadlands.The Deadlands are inspired by the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Players will become Machine Hunters in this dangerous new territory. The game is a full-fledged Massively Multiplayer Online game. You will encounter other players while exploring, gathering resources, and fighting machines.The gameplay trailer highlights a significant shift toward melee combat. This is a notable change from the bow-focused combat of the mainline Horizon games. The combat style appears more akin to titles like Monster Hunter. Players were shown using large swords, daggers, and some ranged weapons.The iconic machine weakness system will return. Targeting specific components on a machine will weaken it and yield valuable loot. Players will also be able to tame machines and use them as mounts. This feature is a staple of the Horizon series that fans expect.

Broader Impact and Market Strategy

This move represents Sony’s continued push into the live-service and mobile gaming markets. Collaborating with a veteran studio like NCSOFT provides crucial MMO development knowledge. It is a strategic effort to grow the Horizon brand into new, lucrative genresFor players, this means a new way to experience the world of Horizon with friends. The free-to-play model common to NCSOFT’s games is highly likely. This could lower the entry barrier and attract millions of new players to the franchise. The success of this title could lead to more hybrid mobile-console projects from Sony.The game does not have a confirmed release date. Industry analysis suggests a release is likely in late 2026 or beyond. The development timeline accounts for the complexity of creating a stable, cross-platform MMO.

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The announcement of Horizon Steel Frontiers marks a pivotal moment for the franchise. This new Horizon MMO aims to translate the thrill of hunting colossal machines into a shared, persistent world. Its success will depend on balancing fan expectations with the unique demands of the MMO genre.

Dropping this nugget your way

Q1: What platforms will Horizon Steel Frontiers be on?

Horizon Steel Frontiers is being developed for both PC and mobile devices. It is being built as a cross-platform game from the ground up. This allows players on different devices to play together.

Q2: Is the game free-to-play?

The developers have not officially confirmed the business model. However, publisher NCSOFT has a strong history with free-to-play MMOs. A free-to-play model with in-game purchases is considered very likely.

Q3: How is the combat different from other Horizon games?

The trailer showcased a heavy emphasis on melee combat with swords and daggers. This is a shift from the primarily ranged, bow-based combat of Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Ranged combat will still be an option, but melee seems more prominent.

Q4: Can you play the game solo?

As an MMO, the game is designed for multiplayer interaction. While some content may be soloable, core activities like large machine hunts will likely require or encourage group play. The world will be populated with other players.

Q5: Why was the game announced now?

The official announcement was accelerated due to a leak. Gameplay videos from an internal NCSOFT developer conference were posted online. Guerrilla and NCSOFT then released the official trailer to control the narrative.