The collaboration between Sony and the Korean MMO specialist NCSoft regarding “Horizon Steel Frontiers” is intensifying to ensure the quality of the upcoming Horizon spin-off.
The project is a close collaboration with series creators Guerrilla Games, as NC America CEO Jeonghee Jin now states. confirmedThis brings the release of the title, which translates the post-apocalypse into a persistent online format, within reach.
Close integration instead of mere licensing
Guerrilla Games isn't simply having the Horizon universe developed in Korea as a mere contract project, but is actively involved in the development process of "Horizon Steel Frontiers“Integrated. According to NC America CEO Jeonghee Jin, the teams from Sony, Guerrilla, and NCSoft are working almost hand in hand. This news is essential for fans of the series, as MMO adaptations of well-known brands often risk trading the visual identity or gameplay nuances of the original for generic genre mechanics.”
The close involvement of Guerrilla gives hope that the hit feedback on the machines and the aesthetics of the game world, which this time is set in the southern USA (Arizona and New Mexico), can maintain the high standard of the main series.
PC and mobile remain the focus, PS5 hopes live on
A sore point for the core community remains the platform policy. Currently, "Horizon Steel Frontiers" is officially announced only for PC and mobile. Cross-play between PC and smartphones is a central focus of development. However, Jin indicated that they would "have to talk to Sony" about a console version, and didn't explicitly rule it out.
Technically, the game must be scalable enough to run on a smartphone, which often means compromises in the complexity of the game world or the graphical fidelity. The fact that the project is nevertheless described as "stunning" suggests the use of modern engines that can efficiently handle different levels of detail.
Original character instead of an Aloy copy
Unlike the single-player adventures, in "Horizon Steel Frontiers" we don't step into the shoes of Aloy. The game consistently builds on the MMO foundation: players create their own machine hunters. This is a necessary step to maintain the dynamics of a shared world, but it raises questions about storytelling. Horizon has thus far thrived on Aloy's personal exploration of the past. In the "Deadlands" of Arizona, the focus will inevitably shift more towards the faction system and the collective fight against the machines.
Do you believe that a Horizon MMO can work without Aloy as the central character, or is the world of machines exciting enough on its own?
The better gas horizon
It's interesting when an external company knows more about what makes an IP than Guerilla themselves. And yes, it's incomprehensible why the game is coming to mobile and PC but not PS5. Horizon Fortnite would be better suited for mobile.