Horizon 3 is still a long way off, according to a well-known industry insider. Although the threequel was already teased years ago, it is now understood to be taking a backseat to Guerrilla Games’ newly announced Horizon co-op title.
Guerrilla first teased Horizon 3 back in April 2023, shortly following the release of Horizon Call of the Mountain. At the time, a blog post from the Dutch studio confirmed that the company would be expanding the Horizon universe with “Aloy’s next adventure” and a separate “online project.” Nearly three years later, that online project was announced in the form of Horizon Hunters Gathering, a co-op action game for up to three players. However, Horizon 3 is still nowhere to be seen.
Horizon 3 is All-But-Confirmed to Continue a Divisive Trend for the Series
Guerrilla Games’ upcoming Horizon 3 may continue to feature a divisive aspect from Horizon Forbidden West’s new factions and machines.
Most of Guerrilla Games Is Reportedly Focused on Horizon Hunters Gathering
As things currently stand, the Horizon 3 announcement won’t be coming anytime soon. That’s according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, a journalist with a long track record of reliable insights into the workings of various SIE studios. Taking to Bluesky on February 5, Schreier stated that, to the best of his knowledge, most of Guerrilla Games is currently focused on Horizon Hunters Gathering. In response to a follow-up question about whether Horizon 3 is still a long way off under those circumstances, Schreier replied affirmatively.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Has Been Polarizing Fans Since Reveal
The revelation that Hunters Gathering is essentially diverting development resources from Horizon 3 is likely to be met with disappointment among some fans, particularly given the mixed response to the co-op game’s recent reveal. On major social media platforms and in the comments section of Sony’s official PlayStation Blog, numerous users have expressed skepticism toward Horizon Hunters Gathering. Concerns cited include fatigue with live-service games and unease over Sony directing yet another traditionally single-player studio toward multiplayer development, especially after numerous recent PlayStation failures in the live-service segment.
“Legitimately don’t think there’s a single Horizon fan on the planet that would prefer this Fortnite knockoff over the next mainline title,” one Reddit user wrote in response to Schreier’s recent comments. Another expressed stronger criticism, stating, “every live-service game consumes money, time, and staff that could be used to create games that are actually worth it, not just an easy cash grab game.” Other complaints currently circulating online focus on the game’s shift away from the series’ signature photorealistic art style toward a more stylized aesthetic, as well as concerns over the project’s potential impact on the development of Horizon 3—concerns that Schreier’s latest insights appear to support.
Horizon Co-Op Game Generated Some Positive Buzz As Well
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Public skepticism aside, not all online reactions to Horizon Hunters Gathering have been negative. Some fans have described the core premise of co-op machine hunts as promising, saying they are intrigued by the prospect of a Monster Hunter-like Horizon game. Others have praised Guerrilla’s early confirmation of features such as crossplay, cross-progression, and the option to play solo.
Horizon 3 Most Likely Isn’t Launching Before PlayStation 6
Given Guerrilla’s reported focus on Hunters Gathering, it appears unlikely that Horizon 3 will be ready for release in the next several years. As a result, the next mainline entry in the post-apocalyptic franchise will most likely arrive during the PlayStation 6 generation. Up until recently, the PS6 was rumored to be targeting a late 2027 release. However, recent RAM shortages—which have driven up memory prices across all major supply chains—may prompt Sony to delay the next console generation until 2028 or later, waiting for component costs to stabilize. In the meantime, Guerrilla has several unanswered questions about Horizon Hunters Gathering to address. For instance, the developer has yet to provide any details about the game’s pricing or expected launch window.
Source: Cynical_onlooker / Reddit, NaitDraik / Reddit
