NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"

News broke on January 13, 2025, via South Korean news outlet MTN, that NCSoft had cancelled several projects, including a highly anticipated Horizon MMORPG internally codenamed "H." This decision follows a company-wide "feasibility review" impacting multiple games. Alongside "Project H," another project, codenamed "J," was also reportedly cancelled, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation. The report further stated that key developers working on "Project H" departed NCSoft, with remaining team members reassigned to other projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart reinforces the cancellation. Official confirmation from NCSoft or Sony is still pending. The future of "Project H" and the possibility of another developer picking up the project remains uncertain.

Guerrilla Games' Separate Horizon Online Project Remains Active

Independently, Guerrilla Games continues development on a separate Horizon multiplayer game, referred to as the "Online Project." This project, confirmed via a December 16, 2022, Twitter (X) post, features a distinct cast of characters and visual style. Job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023, detail the creation of new, challenging machines designed for multi-player combat. A recent January 2025 job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer highlights the game's anticipated scale, targeting a player base exceeding one million. This suggests a significant online component and potentially positions this title as a Sony-led initiative, separate from the NCSoft partnership.

Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership

On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic global partnership with NCSoft, aiming to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach. While the cancellation of the NCSoft Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership could open doors for other Sony titles to expand onto mobile platforms.