NCSoft's Cancellation of the 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 followed a company-wide "feasibility review." NCSoft, known for its Lineage and Guild Wars franchises, cited this review as the reason for halting development. The report also indicated that another project, codenamed "J," faced similar cancellation, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation.

The MTN report further stated that key developers assigned to "Project H" had departed NCSoft. Remaining team members were reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation. While Sony and NCSoft haven't issued official statements, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain, with no confirmation of another team taking over development.

A Separate Horizon Online Project Remains in Development

Despite the NCSoft cancellation, Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the Horizon series, is actively pursuing a separate online multiplayer project within the Horizon universe.

Initially announced on December 16, 2022, via a Twitter (now X) post, this "Online Project" promises a fresh cast of characters and a unique visual style. Job listings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer (November 2023) and a Senior Platform Engineer (January 2025), highlight the game's ambitious scope, suggesting a focus on large-scale combat encounters with numerous players and a projected player base exceeding one million.

The Implications of Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft formalized a strategic global partnership on November 28, 2023. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach. While the cancelled Horizon MMORPG highlights a potential setback, this partnership could pave the way for future collaborations, potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms.

In summary, while NCSoft's cancellation of "Project H" is disappointing, Guerrilla Games' continued work on a separate Horizon online project offers a glimmer of hope for fans eager for a multiplayer experience within the beloved Horizon universe. The future of the partnership between Sony and NCSoft remains to be seen, but it holds significant potential for future gaming endeavors.