Horizon Set for Major Return This Year, But Where Is Aloy?

It’s been almost four long years since Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West landed, and it pains me that the franchise’s third mainline entry is yet to be unveiled.

I’m desperate to be reunited with Aloy, and I’m sure that’ll happen eventually. I will add that the game’s DLC, Burning Shores, landed in 2023.

Outside of this, it’s well known by now that Guerrilla is working on a multiplayer entry in the franchise, as is third-party studio NCSoft.

Those titles are not one and the same.

Guerrilla’s multiplayer remains unannounced, although footage did seemingly appear online a few years back.

On the flip side, we do know what NCSoft has been working on, with Horizon: Steel Frontiers seemingly set to land this year after it dropped its reveal gameplay trailer in 2025.

There Is One Catch, It’s Not Coming To PS5

Yes, Sony has partnered with NCSoft to create an MMORPG set within the world of the Horizon franchise where players will take on the role of machine hunters.

Taking place in an area known as The Deadlands, players will partake in “large-scale battles unique to the game” within a huge open-world.

It’s been made in collaboration with Guerrilla Games, so you should expect gameplay and world building that stays true to what’s been established within those mainline games.

Horizon: Steel Frontiers, Credit / NCSoft

As I said, a gameplay trailer previously dropped, so a quick peruse online and you’ll get an idea of what to expect.

I have to say, I’m a huge Horizon fan and I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen so far; if I’d seen the trailer without context, I wouldn’t have known it wasn’t by Guerrilla immediately.

Of course, we’re all hoping the gameplay feels as good as it looks.

The worst part about Horizon: Steel Frontiers is that it’s currently only set to land on PC and mobile which, to me, is a bizarre decision.

The Horizon franchise is exclusive to PlayStation and PC, with PlayStation being the franchise’s main home.

I really struggle to see a benefit to withholding it from PS5 players unless it’s so it doesn’t compete with Guerrilla’s own multiplayer which, if the leaked footage is to be believed, boasts more of a Fortnite aesthetic.

Horizon: Steel Frontiers hasn’t pinned down an exact release date, but it’s widely expected to land within 2026 so here's hoping that we get some information very soon.

The idea of buddying up with friends to raid Cauldrons and defeat giant machines sounds like a blast.

What a great way to kill the wait for Horizon 3 if you ask me.