Horizon Hunters Gathering is officially getting a second playtest that will run from May 22 until May 25 on both PlayStation 5 and PC. This second Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest will feature two returning game modes and three returning playable characters, along with a bevy of new content like new heroes, a new region, and an all-new story mission.
Announced via a PlayStation Blog post back in February, Horizon Hunters Gathering immediately set itself apart from the series’ past entries by putting forward a very distinct, vibrant art style and a new approach to gameplay. This new approach trades in the single-player open-world adventuring of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West for mission-based three-player co-op action. In its initial announcement, developer Guerrilla Games confirmed that Horizon Hunters Gathering was still in its early stages of development, but rather than keep the project in the dark, it’s deciding to build the game alongside the community via a series of ongoing playtests.
Every Feature Confirmed for Horizon Hunters Gathering So Far
Horizon Hunters Gathering may not have a release date yet, but there are plenty of confirmed features that Horizon fans can expect.
Fans Can Play Horizon Hunters Gathering Between May 22–25
Guerrilla Games (via the PlayStation Blog) has just announced the launch date for Horizon Hunters Gathering‘s second playtest. Beginning on May 22 and running until May 25, the second Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest will let a select number of fans try the ambitious co-op spinoff out for themselves. To get access to this closed playtest, fans will first need to register for the PlayStation Beta Program, and then register their interest for Horizon Hunters Gathering. Those who have already registered their interest shouldn’t need to do so again. Sometime before the playtest goes live on May 22, a handful of players will receive a notification stating that they’ve been chosen to participate.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
All the New Content Coming in Horizon Hunters Gathering’s Second Playtest
During its second playtest, Horizon Hunters Gathering will be debuting an assortment of changes and new additions. These additions include two new playable Hunters. Along with some “improvements” given to the first Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest’s Rem, Sun, and Axle, the second test will see the introduction of Ensa, a “charismatic Oseram smuggler with a mercenary past,” and Shadow, a “Carja covert operative who commands a fearsome Stalker machine.”
A handful of game mode tweaks and additions will also be present in Horizon Hunters Gathering‘s upcoming May playtest. The wave-based Machine Incursion mode is getting new Hard and Merciless difficulty modes, while a brand-new, narrative-based playable Episode will be added, introducing fans to the multiplayer game’s story for the very first time, at least in any substantial capacity. This first Episode will see players choose a Hunter and save Ashwater Valley from a horde of Machines.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
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A brand-new region is also being added to Horizon Hunters Gathering in its second playtest. Called Breakers’ Bounty, this new area features dense jungles, a vast desert, and an array of old ruins. The first playtest’s Devil’s Thirst region will still be available. Horizon Hunters Gathering‘s onboarding experience has also been refined according to Guerrilla Games’ recent PlayStation Blog post, with a new set of tutorials having been added and AI companions now being functional during solo play.
