Horizon Hunters Gathering has been one of the most surprising announcements of the year, at least so far. Before it was officially revealed, there had been leaks and speculation about a Guerrilla-made multiplayer title set in the Horizon universe. However, the art direction and the game’s overall vibe was an unexpected move that made it clear that Horizon Hunters Gathering is aiming to set itself apart from the franchise it’s based on while still honoring the lore and world.
Horizon fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see what’s in store next for Aloy in Horizon 3. Right now, Guerrilla Games’ focus is mostly on the upcoming multiplayer spin-off. Horizon Hunters Gathering is already being teased as a game that isn’t necessarily a run-of-the-mill spin-off, though. Horizon 3 news may be further away than many hoped for, but Horizon Hunters Gathering is arriving sometime in the future to hopefully satisfy the craving that so many gamers have been left with. The multiplayer take on the Horizon universe may not have a release date yet, but Guerrilla Games has already confirmed some interesting features players can expect.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Uses a Three-Player Team Formula
Horizon Hunters Gathering seems to be taking a note out of Elden Ring: Nightreign‘s book by putting players in teams of three. This doesn’t mean that players have to always squad up with friends or strangers, though. Guerrilla Games has already confirmed that Horizon Hunters Gathering will support single-player, too. In this case, players will simply be paired with two Hunter NPCs instead of other players that are online. Since the Horizon franchise is a single-player narrative at its core, it only makes sense to support those who want to experience the spin-off solo. It may be tricky to convince a lot of hardcore Horizon fans to try out a live-service multiplayer title, so allowing solo matches is a good move on Guerrilla Games’ part.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Players Will Be Able to Choose Between a Roster of Unique Playable Hunters
Right now, only three of the playable Hunters have been named so far. Guerrilla Games held Horizon Hunters Gathering‘s first playtest during the last weekend of February, and participants were able to choose from a trio with different skill sets.
As the year continues, there are bound to be other characters revealed in either more playtests or fresh trailers and deep dives. The announcement trailer for Horizon Hunters Gathering showcases six different characters, so at least that many can be expected at launch. Since this spin-off is one of Sony’s live-service games that have been in the works, there are bound to be more characters added over time. Guerrilla Games has also teased an interesting backstory for each character that will help expand the franchise’s lore.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Has Revealed Two Game Modes
Replayable hunts that present players with a solid challenge are Horizon Hunters Gathering‘s main goal, and there are going to be several modes that help shake up the gameplay loop. The two modes that have been confirmed so far are Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent. These game modes were part of the first playtest and offer two new and unique ways to experience the Horizon franchise.
Machine Incursion is a game mode that revolves around unforgiving high-intensity combat encounters. Players take on waves of machines with their squad that culminates in the arrival of a large boss. When it comes to Cauldron Descent, the gameplay drastically changes. This mode is a multi-stage challenge centered around constantly changing rooms and dangerous run-ins with machines, but also potential rewards. The different machines in Horizon can be harrowing to take down, so fighting waves of them in a variety of game modes could prove to be a lot of fun for fans.
Other Confirmed Features For Horizon Hunters Gathering
- Hunters Gathering is also the name of the in-game social hub with vendors and places to help upgrade gear.
- A variety of environments that have their own challenges and stories
- Characters will focus either on range or melee
- Takes place after Horizon: Forbidden West
- Crossplay support
- PlayStation Plus is required to play
Even Though Horizon Hunters Gathering Shakes Up Its Franchise’s Single-Player Narrative Tradition, It Isn’t Leaving Storytelling Behind
There are bound to be Horizon fans that are skeptical of Horizon Hunters Gathering. It’s such a big leap away from the heart of the franchise that it risks feeling too different. Guerrilla Games has made an intriguing promise with its story, though. Horizon Hunters Gathering doesn’t plan to be shallow when it comes to the overall narrative. Very few live-service games are known for their storytelling prowess. Games like Helldivers 2 have managed to take the live-service model and turn it into a wonderfully dynamic storytelling tool, and Horizon Hunters Gathering has hopefully been inspired by this. In the official press release for Horizon Hunters Gathering, Guerrilla Games stated, “The game has a narrative campaign which will introduce new mysteries, characters, and threats, but we’re keeping it under wraps for now. What we can say is that Hunters Gathering is fully canon and its story doesn’t stop at launch!”
Even though Horizon Hunters Gathering doesn’t have a release set in stone yet, the fact that Guerrilla Games is hosting playtests hints that the game is on track for a 2026 launch. Delays are always possible, though.
This hopefully means that Horizon Hunters Gathering uses a live-service approach fully to its advantage. Making Horizon Hunters Gathering fully canon is both intriguing and risky. There are going to be a lot of Horizon lovers checking out the game, but not every single fan is going to transition over to a multiplayer spin-off. So, Guerrilla Games has to be careful about dropping any major lore bombs in Horizon Hunters Gathering. Otherwise, mainline fans will likely be upset that they are potentially missing out on important pieces of lore. With many waiting for the next Horizon game starring Aloy, it will be interesting to see if Guerrilla Games decides to start planting seeds in Horizon Hunters Gathering that grow into teasers for the next mainline chapter.
