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MMORPG Action in Horizon Steel Frontiers
After years of leaks, supposed cancellation, and quiet hiring clues, the long-whispered Horizon MMORPG has finally been confirmed as Horizon Steel Frontiers. Sony and NCSoft have officially announced the project, marking the series’ most significant expansion since Horizon Forbidden West.
For the first time, players will explore the world of Horizon as part of an online, persistent multiplayer experience created in collaboration between Guerrilla Games and the studio behind titles like Lineage and Guild Wars 2.
A New Region and a New Direction
Horizon Steel Frontiers is a full spin-off set in the same universe as Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. It takes place in an entirely new region known as the Deadlands, inspired by areas of Arizona and New Mexico.
A 10-minute announcement trailer showcased sweeping deserts, tribal settlements, and towering machines that clearly carry the familiar Horizon design language. The trailer also highlighted fresh armour sets, expanded tribal motifs, and a vibrant art style tailored for online play.
Sony and NCSoft have not yet confirmed whether Steel Frontiers will be a premium game or follow a free-to-play model.
MMORPG Combat and Player Systems
Horizon Steel Frontiers fully embraces the mechanics of traditional MMORPGs. The user interface displays active abilities, cooldown slots, combat indicators, and floating damage numbers. Mobility also appears to be a core focus, with grappling hook manoeuvres and fast-paced melee exchanges forming much of the action.
Machine combat remains central to the experience. Battles revolve around part based damage, allowing players to target specific machine components to break weapons, disable movement, or expose weak spots. This mechanic has been carried over from the original single player games and adapted for cooperative encounters.
Multiplayer Encounters and Customisation
NCSoft confirmed that the MMO will feature large-scale raid battles against giant machine enemies, hinting at a blend of action combat and MMO-style group coordination.
Character creation will be a key pillar of the experience, offering deep personalisation options. Players will be able to customise and share their avatars, suggesting a social dimension that goes beyond traditional questing.
Coming to PC and Mobile
Horizon Steel Frontiers is planned for release on PC via NCSoft’s PURPLE platform, along with Android and iOS versions. This marks one of Sony’s most extensive cross-platform collaborations to date.
No release date has been announced, but the scope of the reveal suggests an ambitious project designed to introduce the Horizon universe to a new global audience.
