Horizon Steel Frontiers: NCSOFT Brings PlayStation's Horizon to MMORPGs

NCSOFT just dropped a bombshell at G-STAR 2025: they're making an official Horizon MMORPG. Horizon Steel Frontiers takes PlayStation's beloved franchise about mechanical beasts and tribal hunters into massively multiplayer territory, and the gameplay trailer shown at Korea's biggest gaming convention proves this isn't just a mobile cash-grab—it's a full-scale MMORPG built specifically for the Horizon universe.

The collaboration between NCSOFT and Guerrilla Games brings the Deadlands to life as a shared online world. Jan-Bart Van Beek from Guerrilla discussed how they're working directly with NCSOFT to ensure the MMO captures what makes Horizon special: the sense of discovery, the tension of hunting massive mechanical creatures, and that signature blend of primitive aesthetics with advanced technology.

Welcome to the Deadlands

Horizon Steel Frontiers drops players into the Deadlands, a world teeming with the mechanical beasts that define the franchise. Unlike the single-player Horizon games where you're alone against these colossal machines, Steel Frontiers reimagines that experience for multiplayer. Coordinated hunts against towering mechanicals, territory control, and large-scale battles transform how players interact with Horizon's signature creatures.

The setting preserves the original series' worldbuilding while expanding it for MMO-scale conflicts. Multiple hunters working together to bring down a Thunderjaw hits different than soloing one—and that's the entire point.

Action Combat Meets MMORPG Systems

NCSOFT emphasizes that Horizon Steel Frontiers maintains the action-oriented combat that makes Horizon games feel intense and immediate. This isn't tab-targeting auto-attacks—it's active dodging, precision shots at weak points, and tactical positioning, all adapted for multiplayer scenarios.

The game features extensive character customization beyond what single-player Horizon offers. Build your hunter exactly how you want, specialize in specific weapon types, and coordinate loadouts with your clan. High player freedom means different approaches to the same hunt, creating variety even in familiar encounters.

Cross-Platform on PC and Mobile

Horizon Steel Frontiers launches on both PC (via NCSOFT's PURPLE platform) and mobile simultaneously. The cross-platform approach mirrors what NCSOFT's done with their other MMO titles, ensuring the playerbase stays unified regardless of device. Whether you're grinding mechanical parts on your gaming rig or managing daily quests on your phone, you're in the same Deadlands as everyone else.

What We Know So Far

Release date remains TBA, with NCSOFT promising gradual reveals as development progresses. The G-STAR 2025 announcement marks the official unveiling, with the gameplay trailer showing enough polish to suggest this isn't early concept footage—it's a real game in active development.

For the latest trailers, development updates, and eventual release information, visit the official Horizon Steel Frontiers website.

Game Information