Sony Scales Back Horizon Live Service PS5 Game Amid Ongoing Struggles

Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly scaling back its Horizon live service project, Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing live service elements and shifting focus to a traditional co-op multiplayer experience with a story mode. According to a Bloomberg report cited by Push Square, the decision follows poor feedback from players during private tests, prompting developer Guerrilla Games to reboot the project since June. The scope of the game has shrunk considerably, leading to the reassignment of "many" Guerrilla developers to other projects. While the project has not been cancelled, staff were given until December to impress executives with their next milestone.

This move comes amid broader challenges for Sony in the live service space, with most of its ambitious projects either cancelled or underperforming. The company's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, developer of Destiny 2, has not yielded the desired results. Meanwhile, Sony continues to prioritize single-player experiences, such as Marvel's Wolverine and God of War: Ragnarök, as fans increasingly demand a return to traditional gameplay. The next mainline Horizon single-player title remains years away, with only a "tiny team" working on it.

Horizon Hunters Gathering, initially envisioned as a major live service title, is now being evaluated for potential cancellation by the end of the year. The project's reduced scope and internal restructuring highlight Sony's struggles to maintain momentum in the competitive live service market. Despite these setbacks, the company continues to invest in high-profile single-player games, signaling a strategic shift in its approach to the PS5 generation.