Horizon Hunters Gathering, the latest title introduced in the Horizon franchise, was officially announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment and Guerrilla Games.It is a tactical cooperative action game for three players, which will be available on both PlayStation 5 and PC.Although it does not yet have a confirmed release date, Sony has already opened registration for a closed playtest that will begin at the end of February.
The Horizon franchise, initially recognized for its focus on the individual experience based on action and exploration, undergoes a notable change with Horizon Hunters Gathering.Players will be able to form teams of up to three people to face mechanical threats that threaten the game world. Each participant will choose a Hunter with exclusive skills and weapons, requiring coordination and advanced strategies to overcome intense missions.
Horizon Hunters Gathering will incorporate tactical, reactive and skill-focused elements.Each hunter will be able to specialize in close-quarters or ranged combat styles, and choose roles defined by a roguelite-type perk system, which will allow you to customize skills as you progress.Between each mission, players will return to Hunters Gathering, a meeting point where they can customize characters, upgrade equipment, and organize their teams before heading out again.
The cooperative mode is not exclusive, since the narrative campaign can also be played individually accompanied by characters controlled by artificial intelligence.However, the first public play tests will only be enabled for real groups of online players.Additionally, Machine Incursion mode features scenarios in which waves of machines emerge from underground floodgates led by a particularly challenging boss, while Cauldron Descent will offer extensive trials with changing environments and secret rooms that reward group exploration.
Unlike previous installments, which focused on the story of the protagonist Aloy, Horizon Hunters Gathering introduces a renewed cast of hunters and develops an independent narrative.The story is expected to offer new mysteries and the appearance of new characters, all within a universe where the danger of machines takes a different strategic and social approach.
The launch of Horizon Hunters Gathering occurs in a context of decline for the saga.Recently, NCSoft announced the future release of Horizon Steel Frontiers, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the same universe, promoting diversity and competition in the multiplayer genre.Since 2017, Guerrilla Games has released several titles and expansions, establishing Horizon as one of the most versatile and active universes on PlayStation.
The announcement of playtests and the cooperative component has generated debate among fans accustomed to largely individual experiences.On forums and social networks, users express doubts about how tactical dynamics and roles will influence the development and story of the game. Some express concern that the emphasis on team play may represent obstacles for those who prefer individual mode, while others value the possibility of experiencing better coordination and collective challenge in battles against machines.
At the moment, Guerrilla Games has not announced the release date or the technical requirements for the playtest on PC and PlayStation 5, but has confirmed that registrations are open and that they will select a small group of players to evaluate performance before final publication.The development of Horizon Hunters Gathering will mean an important step for the series, as well as for the adoption of new styles of cooperative play within the PlayStation ecosystem.
