If you have been waiting for the next chapter in Aloy’s epic journey, you might want to settle in for a long wait. While the world of machines and primitive tribes is expanding, the highly anticipated Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is reportedly not the main priority over at Guerrilla Games right now. According to recent industry reports and insider details, the studio has moved the vast majority of its workforce onto a different project entirely.
That project is Horizon Hunters Gathering, a tactical three player co-op game that was recently unveiled as a major new pillar for the franchise. While we all knew a multiplayer game was in the works, it appears that this isn’t just a small side project to keep fans busy. It has become the primary focus for the team in Amsterdam, which naturally means that the development of the third mainline entry has been pushed further into the distance.
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The long road to the next mainline adventure
Industry experts and insiders, including Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, have suggested that Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is likely three to five years away from seeing the light of day. When you look at the current timeline, that puts a potential release window somewhere between 2028 and 2030. If you are keeping track of console generations, that timing aligns perfectly with the expected arrival of the PlayStation 6.
It is a bit of a bitter pill for those who wanted to wrap up the trilogy on the PS5, but from a technical standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. By the time the game is ready, the current hardware will be reaching its limits. Launching Horizon Zero Dawn 3 as a flagship title for the PS6 would allow Guerrilla to push the Decima engine to heights we can only imagine, truly delivering on the scale that a series finale deserves.
What is Horizon Hunters Gathering anyway?
While the wait for Horizon Zero Dawn 3 feels daunting, Guerrilla isn’t leaving us with nothing to do. Horizon Hunters Gathering is a significant departure from the solo exploration we are used to. It is a PvE action game where you and two friends choose from a roster of unique hunters to take down massive machines. The art style is more stylized than the photorealistic mainline games, but the studio insists that the story and world are fully canon.
The game features two main modes: Machine Incursion, which is a high intensity wave defense experience, and Cauldron Descent, a multi stage tactical trial that feels a bit like a dungeon crawl. Between these missions, players hang out in a social hub called the Hunters Gathering to upgrade gear and customize their campsites. It is clear that Sony is banking on this live service model to bridge the massive gap between the second and third single player games.
The impact of the live service pivot
It is no secret that Sony has been pushing hard into the live service arena, and the delay of Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is a direct consequence of that strategy. While some fans are understandably worried about the focus shifting away from narrative driven solo adventures, Guerrilla has a history of making high quality multiplayer experiences, dating all the way back to the Killzone days.
The studio is trying to find a balance between the two styles. By moving most of the staff to Hunters Gathering, they can ensure the multiplayer game has the polish it needs to survive in a very competitive market. The downside is that the development cycle for a massive open world game like Horizon Zero Dawn 3 is essentially paused or slowed down. We have seen this happen with other major franchises, where a successful spin off or multiplayer mode ends up extending the wait for the next “big” sequel by several years.
For current PS5 owners, the news that Horizon Zero Dawn 3 might skip the console entirely is a bit of a shock. We have seen a few remasters and the LEGO Horizon Adventures recently, which kept the brand alive, but a true sequel is what most people bought the hardware for. If the rumors hold true, the PS5 might be the only PlayStation generation not to have its own unique, ground up mainline Horizon release, given that Forbidden West was a cross gen title with the PS4.
However, Sony likely sees this as a long term play. By the time the PS6 launches, having a powerhouse like Horizon Zero Dawn 3 ready to go on day one would be a massive advantage. It gives people a concrete reason to upgrade and ensures that the new console starts its life with a “must have” exclusive that looks and plays better than anything currently on the market.
