NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"
NCSoft's plans for a Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," have been cancelled, according to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN. The cancellation follows a company-wide "feasibility review" that also resulted in the termination of other unannounced projects (codenamed "J"). The report further states that key developers assigned to "Project H" departed NCSoft, with remaining team members reassigned to different projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart solidifies the cancellation.
While NCSoft and Sony have yet to officially comment, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. The possibility of another publisher or development team acquiring the project's assets and continuing development is open.
Parallel Development: Guerrilla Games' Online Horizon Project
This news contrasts with the ongoing development of a separate Horizon online project by Guerrilla Games. Announced in December 2022, this "Online Project" is confirmed to feature a new cast of characters and a unique visual style. Recent job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023 and a Senior Platform Engineer in January 2025, indicate continued progress and an anticipated player base of over one million. These postings suggest a larger-scale multiplayer experience with challenging, potentially larger, enemy machines.
The Scale of Guerrilla Games' Ambitions
The January 2025 job posting for a Senior Platform Engineer specifically mentions experience with "1M+ globally distributed systems," strongly suggesting Guerrilla Games' ambition for a significant online presence. However, an official announcement regarding this project is still pending.
Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership
The November 28, 2023 announcement of a strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft adds another layer of complexity. While "Project H" is cancelled, this partnership could open doors for future collaborations, potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms.
In summary, while the NCSoft Horizon MMORPG is cancelled, Guerrilla Games' separate online project continues to progress, hinting at a potentially large-scale multiplayer experience within the Horizon universe. The future impact of the Sony and NCSoft partnership remains to be seen.
