Sony couldn’t keep this one under wraps. Just hours before the scheduled announcement at G-Star 2025 in Korea on November 13, videos and images of Horizon Steel Frontiers leaked online, revealing that the long-rumored Horizon multiplayer game is actually an MMORPG developed by NCSoft. And here’s the kicker – it’s coming to mobile and PC first, with no mention of PlayStation 5. Yes, you read that right. A Horizon game launching without PlayStation.
What Is Horizon Steel Frontiers?
Horizon Steel Frontiers is the first MMORPG set in Guerrilla Games’ Horizon universe. Instead of playing as Aloy or any established characters, you create your own machine hunter and venture into the Deadlands, a new frontier inspired by Arizona and New Mexico. The game focuses on cooperative and competitive multiplayer, with thousands of players sharing the same world, hunting massive mechanical beasts together, competing for resources, and forming rival tribes.
According to executive producer Sung-Gu Lee from NCSoft, the core concept boils down to one phrase: the thrill of taking down colossal machines. The developers are taking Horizon’s signature hunting action and expanding it into the MMORPG space with large-scale raids, advanced combat systems, and the kind of social gameplay that defines the genre. Think Monster Hunter meets Horizon Zero Dawn with persistent online worlds and character progression.
The Leak That Ruined the Surprise
The leak hit on November 12, 2025, when videos from a developer conference in Korea appeared online. The Verge reportedly saw artwork and a full video presentation meant for the G-Star 2025 announcement. Within hours of the leak spreading across gaming communities, Sony and NCSoft decided to just roll with it and officially revealed Horizon Steel Frontiers with a proper announcement trailer and details.
This kind of pre-announcement leak has become increasingly common in the gaming industry. Companies spend months planning perfect reveals at major events, only to have someone with access to materials break embargo or accidentally publish content early. For Sony and NCSoft, the choice was simple – let the leak control the narrative or get ahead of it with an official announcement. They chose the latter, giving fans actual details instead of letting speculation run wild.
Mobile First, PlayStation Later?
Here’s where things get controversial. Horizon Steel Frontiers is launching on mobile and PC via NCSoft’s Purple platform. There’s currently no mention of a PlayStation 5 version, which is shocking considering Horizon has been synonymous with PlayStation since Zero Dawn launched in 2017. Every mainline game, expansion, and even the LEGO spin-off has been on PlayStation. This marks the first time a Horizon game is skipping Sony’s own console at launch.
The decision makes business sense even if it frustrates PlayStation fans. The mobile gaming market in Asia is absolutely massive, dwarfing console gaming in size and revenue. NCSoft specializes in MMORPGs for mobile and PC, with huge hits in Korea and China. Partnering with them means Sony gets access to markets and audiences that PlayStation consoles struggle to reach. A PlayStation version could still come later, but the priority is clearly mobile-first.
The Community Response
As you’d expect, PlayStation fans are not thrilled. Social media exploded with reactions ranging from disappointment to outright fury that a Horizon game is launching without PS5 support. Comments like hard pass from me and this isn’t what we wanted dominated discussion threads. Longtime fans who’ve followed Aloy’s journey through two mainline games and multiple expansions feel like Sony is abandoning them for the mobile market.
On the flip side, mobile gamers and MMO enthusiasts are excited to see a high-profile Western IP like Horizon getting the MMORPG treatment. NCSoft has a strong track record with games like Lineage and Guild Wars, so there’s confidence they can deliver a quality experience. The question is whether Horizon’s DNA translates well to the MMO format, or if this ends up feeling like a cash grab riding on brand recognition.
How the Gameplay Works
The leaked footage and official announcement revealed several gameplay details that show how NCSoft is adapting Horizon for the MMO space. Combat emphasizes both melee and ranged weapons, which is a departure from the mainline games’ focus on bows and ranged combat. Some character classes wield giant swords or daggers, while others use familiar ranged weapons. This variety suggests different playstyles and roles within raid groups, similar to traditional MMO class systems.
The iconic weakness-targeting mechanic from Horizon is making the transition to Steel Frontiers. Players can destroy specific parts of machines to weaken them and obtain loot, just like in Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Once you damage a machine part, you can use the Pullcaster to quickly approach and climb onto it, set traps on damaged areas, and inflict status effects. You can even pick up weapons dropped by machines mid-battle, carry them on your mount, and use them in subsequent fights.
Character Customization and Freedom
Unlike the mainline Horizon games where you play as Aloy with limited appearance options, Steel Frontiers offers deep character customization. You create your own machine hunter from scratch, choosing appearance, gender, and presumably class or specialization. This is standard for MMOs but represents a significant shift for Horizon, which has always been about Aloy’s personal journey.
The customization extends to playstyle and progression. NCSoft emphasized boundless freedom and extensive player choice in how you develop your character. Whether that means traditional MMO skill trees, gear-based progression, or something unique to Horizon remains to be seen. The important thing is that players can forge their own identity in this world rather than following a predetermined narrative path.
The Deadlands Setting
Horizon Steel Frontiers takes place in the Deadlands, a new region inspired by the deserts and landscapes of Arizona and New Mexico. This is virgin territory for the Horizon franchise, which has previously explored Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, and the Pacific Northwest. The American Southwest offers vast desert expanses, canyon systems, and distinct ecosystems perfect for both solo exploration and large-scale multiplayer activities.
The Deadlands are described as a frontier for machine hunters, a lawless region where rival tribes compete for resources and survival. This setup naturally facilitates the cooperation and competition dynamic that defines MMOs. You might team up with strangers to take down a massive Thunderjaw, then find yourself fighting those same players over valuable salvage in the next encounter. That unpredictability creates emergent gameplay moments that single-player games can’t replicate.
Release Timeline
No release date was provided in the official announcement, which is typical for games revealed this early. However, previous job listings from Guerrilla Games hinted at a first half of 2025 timeline for an online Horizon project. That window has mostly passed, so realistically we’re looking at late 2025 at the earliest, more likely sometime in 2026.
NCSoft will want to ensure the game is polished and the servers can handle thousands of concurrent players before launch. MMO launches are notoriously difficult to execute smoothly, with server crashes, login queues, and technical issues often plaguing even the most anticipated releases. Taking extra time to get it right benefits everyone, even if fans are impatient to play.
Guerrilla’s Involvement
Guerrilla Games is actively collaborating with NCSoft on Horizon Steel Frontiers rather than just licensing the IP and walking away. This partnership ensures that the game stays true to Horizon’s artistic vision, lore, and gameplay feel while allowing NCSoft to handle the technical MMO infrastructure and live service operations where they excel.
Jan-Bart van Beek from Guerrilla Games expressed excitement about bringing Horizon to the MMO genre and reaching new audiences. The studio sees this as an opportunity to expand the franchise beyond single-player action-adventure games while the main team continues working on future mainline entries. It’s similar to how Sony allowed Firesprite to make Horizon Call of the Mountain for PSVR2 – different studios handling different formats to maximize the IP’s reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Horizon Steel Frontiers?
Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMORPG developed by NCSoft in collaboration with Guerrilla Games. Set in the Horizon universe, it focuses on cooperative and competitive multiplayer where thousands of players hunt massive machines together in a region called the Deadlands.
When was Horizon Steel Frontiers announced?
The game leaked on November 12, 2025 before being officially announced at G-Star 2025 in Korea on November 13, 2025. Videos and artwork appeared online hours before the planned reveal, prompting Sony and NCSoft to release official details early.
What platforms is Horizon Steel Frontiers coming to?
Horizon Steel Frontiers is confirmed for mobile devices and PC via NCSoft’s Purple platform. There is currently no mention of a PlayStation 5 version, making it the first Horizon game to skip Sony’s console.
Will Horizon Steel Frontiers come to PlayStation?
Sony and NCSoft have not confirmed a PlayStation 5 version. The game is currently announced only for mobile and PC, though a console version could be added later depending on the game’s success and community demand.
Do you play as Aloy in Horizon Steel Frontiers?
No, Horizon Steel Frontiers features full character customization where you create your own machine hunter. This is a departure from the mainline games where you play as the established protagonist Aloy.
When will Horizon Steel Frontiers be released?
No official release date has been announced. Based on previous hints and typical MMO development timelines, late 2025 or 2026 seems most likely, though this is speculation.
Is Horizon Steel Frontiers free to play?
NCSoft has not confirmed the business model yet. Many mobile MMORPGs use free-to-play models with optional purchases, but official pricing details have not been revealed.
Final Thoughts
Horizon Steel Frontiers represents Sony’s most aggressive push yet to expand the Horizon franchise beyond its PlayStation roots. Whether that’s a smart business decision or a betrayal of longtime fans depends on your perspective. What’s undeniable is that partnering with NCSoft gives Sony access to massive markets where PlayStation has minimal presence, particularly in Asia where mobile gaming dominates.
The real test will be whether the game captures what makes Horizon special – the thrill of hunting mechanical beasts, the gorgeous post-apocalyptic landscapes, and the sense of discovery – in an MMO format designed for persistent online play. If NCSoft and Guerrilla can pull that off, Horizon Steel Frontiers could introduce millions of new players to the franchise. If it feels like a generic MMO wearing Horizon’s skin, the backlash will be swift and brutal. For now, all we can do is wait for more gameplay footage and hope that this isn’t just a mobile cash grab riding on a beloved IP’s reputation.