Horizon Hunters Gathering Reportedly Being Reworked After Bad Playtest Feedback
- Sagar Mankar
- Aug 20
- 3 min read
Guerrilla Games is reportedly rebooting Horizon Hunters Gathering to strip out its live service elements after early playtests didn't land well with players.
According to a report from Jason Schreier at Bloomberg, people familiar with the situation say Guerrilla has been quietly overhauling the game since June. The plan now is to turn it into a more traditional multiplayer co-op title, complete with a story mode and a noticeably smaller scope than what was originally pitched.
So What Went Wrong?
Poor feedback from private playtesters seems to be the main culprit here. Horizon Hunters Gathering was originally announced back in February 2026 as a tactical three player co-op game set after the events of Horizon Forbidden West. Players would pick from a roster of Hunters, each with their own combat style and a roguelite perk system to mess around with. There was wave-based combat in a mode called Machine Incursion, plus a multi-stage mission type called Cauldron Descent. A social hub named Hunters Gathering was meant to tie it all together with customization and vendors.
The art direction was a big departure too. Instead of the photorealistic look the mainline Horizon games are known for, this spin-off went with a stylized, almost cartoonish aesthetic. A lot of fans compared it to games like Fortnite or Dauntless, and not in a flattering way. Combine that with general live service fatigue among players, and the reception was lukewarm at best from the moment it was revealed.
Is The Game Cancelled?
Not officially, no. But things are looking shaky. Sources say Guerrilla has until December to show PlayStation leadership something that actually impresses them. If that milestone isn't hit, the project could face further cuts or outright cancellation. A chunk of the development team working on Hunters Gathering has already been shifted over to another project at the studio, which is also due for evaluation by the end of the year.
Another Live Service Stumble For Sony?
This is starting to feel like a pattern for PlayStation. Concord is still the poster child for how badly a live service launch can go. It came out in August 2024 and was pulled from shelves just two weeks later after barely anyone showed up to play it. Firewalk Studios, the developer behind it, was shut down soon after.
That's not the only casualty either. A live service God of War project got cancelled, and Bluepoint Games was closed down as a result. Naughty Dog's multiplayer Last of Us game was reportedly killed off when it was already 80% finished, which still stings for a lot of fans. There was also a Twisted Metal battle royale that never made it out the door.
And then there's Marathon, which launched to decent reviews but has struggled to hold onto its player base, prompting Bungie to pull back on Destiny 2 updates as well.
What Are Fans Saying?
Reaction to the news has been mixed, leaning toward vindicated. Developer and commentator Grummz didn't hold back, calling it "all but cancelled" and even dubbing it "Concord 4." He pointed to the negative playtests, the staff reassignments, and the removal of live service systems as proof that the warning signs were there all along.
Reddit threads tell a similar story. A lot of players are frustrated that resources went into this project instead of a proper Horizon 3, and plenty are glad to see the stylized art style getting reworked. A smaller group is holding out hope that a scaled-down co-op version could still turn out fun.
If Guerrilla hits that December deadline, players might still get a smaller, story-focused co-op game without the constant live service baggage attached. If not, the whole thing could quietly disappear.
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