Horizon’s New PS5 Co-op Game Officially Revealed, It Looks Incredible

If thought today's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase would be the only source of breaking news, you're sorely mistaken.

Guerrilla Games has just made the most surprising move that I still can't quite believe is real.

When's the perfect time to announce a new instalment in the beloved Horizon franchise? On a random Thursday in February is seemingly the answer.

Yes, Sony and Guerrilla have unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering which is coming to both PlayStation 5 and PC.

This isn't a mainline entry in Aloy's familiar saga. Instead, it's the multiplayer spin-off we've been itching to hear about - although Aloy is in it, it seems.

Horizon Hunters Gathering Is a Tactical Co-Op Game

Described as a "tactical co-op action game", Horizon Hunters Gathering "lets up to three players team up as heroic Hunters to protect a world under threat from deadly machines".

I can’t quite work out why PlayStation and Guerrilla just decided to drop a nine-minute reveal on YouTube instead of saving this for a State of Play but alas, here we are.

In said reveal video, Guerrilla’s studio head Jan-Bart Van Beek reassured fans that the existence of Horizon Hunters Gathering doesn’t mark the end of single-player games.

The mainline saga will return but in the meantime, Guerrilla committed to bringing a slightly different dream to life.

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Horizon Hunters Gathering boasts somewhat of a Fortnite-esque art style, with a touch of Borderlands thrown in. It’s not quite as realistic as the mainline games.

Players will be able to play as a selection of new heroes within Horizon Hunters Gathering, although the trailer features several familiar faces including the likes of Aloy and Erend.

Jan-Bart explained that the team felt the switch-up in art style suited the game’s team-based approach and frenetic combat.

He also stressed that Horizon Hunters Gathering remains in development, so any gameplay you see online should be viewed with that in mind.

The Story Is Canon To Horizon’s Universe

Arjan Bak is serving as the game’s director; he explained that ‘the gathering’ is a group of heroes formed by players who must put a stop to Horizon’s familiar deadly machines.

The announcement video features a hefty chunk of gameplay which reveals three of the new heroes in action.

While, visually, Horizon Hunters Gathering is an entirely different kettle of fish to the mainline games, the combat doesn’t look all that different.

Combat is fast-paced, with players needing to target a machine’s weak parts.

There are hunters who suit both melee and ranged fighting styles, and you’ll power up before each run; the game has somewhat of a roguelike structure.

There are four key areas at launch, with that wording suggesting that more might be on the way. The Hunter’s Gathering is the game’s hub where you can hang out and level up.

There are multiple mission types. Machine Incursion is one such example that’s been unveiled.

You’ll need to stop a machine assault on a tribe which culminates in a massive boss fight.

Cauldron Descent is a multi-stage dungeon mission. It doesn’t work too differently to cauldrons in the game.

“Tough and replayable” is how Arjan described the game.

Horizon Hunters Gathering does boast its own story which, yes, is fully canon within the Horizon universe - and you can face this alone or with friends.

Devs will add new adventures over time, so it looks like support is planned long into the future for this one.

Like the sound of all of this? You don’t need to wait for a launch date.

A playtest is on the way very soon which you can find out more about via Horizon Hunters Gathering’s new social media channels.