Unannounced Horizon MMO Reportedly Cancelled by NCSOFT

[T0@st]

An industry mole—familiar with internal NCSOFT activities—believes that three game development projects have been cancelled: Pantera, H, and J. Past speculation has pointed to "Project H" being an announced Horizon MMO title—based on evidence that emerged shortly after the announced formation of a "strategic global business partnership" between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSOFT (back in 2023). Reportedly, Jim Ryan—the now former CEO and chairman of SIE—spearheaded PlayStation's concerted push into multi-faceted "live service" development cycles. Industry oracle, Jason Schreier, questioned the prioritization of "games as a service"—his late 2023 predictions seem very prescient, when looking at the present day landscape.

Last week, reports suggested two unannounced Sony-owned live-service games being placed on the proverbial chopping board. Bluepoint's much rumored "God of War" project was quietly canned according to Schreier's Bloomberg column, as well as a mysterious Bend Studios-produced title. NCSOFT's Project H—also known as "Skyline"—appears to be the victim of an internal "feasibility review." Target platforms were reported to be PC and mobile—therefore placing Project H/Skyline in a separate tranche; distinct from another online-oriented Horizon game. Franchise originator—Guerrilla Games—is reportedly still toiling away (with Bungie's guidance) on an upcoming multiplayer-focused release for PlayStation 5 home consoles.



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[lexluthermiester]

Canceling an MMO? How sad... /s

Now they should get the lead out making Forbidden West available on GOG.
@ Guerilla/NCSOFT/Sony
Seriously folks, let's get on it, eh?

EDIT: Correction for accuracy.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Only thing from NCSoft I liked playing was Aion when it first came out. Played the hell out of it for about 9 months. I think it's still around as "free to play", but the game is pretty much just an empty vessel that, to my understanding, is just that - empty. Almost no subscribers here on the State server. I can't speak for any "free" accounts. I'm surprised they still run servers for it.

The last NCSoft MMO game that came out was the one so many people were excited for was Throne and Liberty - I tried it, but I absolutely hated it. The game play on the PC wasn't designed for PC, you can tell they took the mobile game and tried to get it to work on the PC and it plays like crap. Also, I've outgrown the animation style they use in all their games...plus I detest the high-pitched girl voice that is used in Asian games, it's worse than nails on a chalk board to me. Just awful.

If a supposed Horizon MMO game was in the works under NCSoft and it was supposed to be a PC and mobile game, I can understand why it got the chop based on my Throne and Liberty experience.

 

[tpuuser256]

MMOs are fancy casinos, not worth playing without friends
I've played MMOs quite a bit in my teenage years and I only remember the lore, story and world. All of which are much better implemented in proper single player games.

 

[TechLurker]

Only thing from NCSoft I liked playing was Aion when it first came out. Played the hell out of it for about 9 months. I think it's still around as "free to play", but the game is pretty much just an empty vessel that, to my understanding, is just that - empty. Almost no subscribers here on the State server. I can't speak for any "free" accounts. I'm surprised they still run servers for it.

It's because Blade & Soul cannibalized from the Aion playerbase, and Aion split into Aion and Aion Classic further fragmenting the already fragmented playerbase. Moreso with Classic getting more updates and going an alternate route where they didn't remove the crafting system, didn't release the Spellsinger (yes, song-magic via magical instruments), Gunslinger, and Aethertech classes, and instead added alternate new classes. And now, Aion 2 is coming in Fall/Winter 2025, which will take lessons learned from Aion and Aion Classic and combine them into a new sequel using UE5, a more responsive combat system, and a greater focus on PvE and a grand story, rather than Aion's risk vs rewards setup of being all PvPvE in most zones and the risk of getting ganked while one was just doing simple gathering quests.

In parallel, B&S is also getting a remake under B&S Neo which reduces player pain points with the original and makes it more accessible.

So at any rate, Aion's inevitable shutdown is closing in. I did log in after nearly 5 years just to explore it in a bit of nostalgia, and I admit I miss my time on it, and the lore that drew me to it in the first place. It's also one of the very rare MMOs that had true verticality with the ability to fly and fight in certain zones.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

MMOs are fancy casinos, not worth playing without friends

But the friends...

Are the ones we make a long the way.

I started playing Guildwars 1 in 2006. And by the time I departed that game some 8-10years later after most people had already left to go play other MMOs. Im still IRL friends with a handful of the people I used to play with ingame.

Unfortunately they were all a bunch of dudes pretending to be sweaty PvP/PvE try hards. I did meet a few girls a long the way but while we teamed together. Talked on Mumble/Ventrillo/steam they didnt stay in touch with any of the people in group.

So thats 20+ years of friendship from a damn game. And we still meet for beer and BBQ occasionally. Its rarer now since most of them have all gone their own way. had kids/completed their studies etc but we still keep in touch and call each other by our ingame names. Old habits die hard.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Good riddance.

The world does not need a solid single player franchise getting turned into another F2P/Live Service/GAAS shitpile.

 

[Dorek]

But the friends...

Are the ones we make a long the way.

I started playing Guildwars 1 in 2006. And by the time I departed that game some 8-10years later after most people had already left to go play other MMOs. Im still IRL friends with a handful of the people I used to play with ingame.

Unfortunately they were all a bunch of dudes pretending to be sweaty PvP/PvE try hards. I did meet a few girls a long the way but while we teamed together. Talked on Mumble/Ventrillo/steam they didnt stay in touch with any of the people in group.

So thats 20+ years of friendship from a damn game. And we still meet for beer and BBQ occasionally. Its rarer now since most of them have all gone their own way. had kids/completed their studies etc but we still keep in touch and call each other by our ingame names. Old habits die hard.

Haha same for me but with world of warcraft, and we do meet irl occasionally kinda everyone from all over europe.

 

[Hyderz]

But the friends...

Are the ones we make a long the way.

I started playing Guildwars 1 in 2006. And by the time I departed that game some 8-10years later after most people had already left to go play other MMOs. Im still IRL friends with a handful of the people I used to play with ingame.

Unfortunately they were all a bunch of dudes pretending to be sweaty PvP/PvE try hards. I did meet a few girls a long the way but while we teamed together. Talked on Mumble/Ventrillo/steam they didnt stay in touch with any of the people in group.

So thats 20+ years of friendship from a damn game. And we still meet for beer and BBQ occasionally. Its rarer now since most of them have all gone their own way. had kids/completed their studies etc but we still keep in touch and call each other by our ingame names. Old habits die hard.

did u play a 55hp monk?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

did u play a 55hp monk?

No I did not But i did 55hp necro and dabbled in the Ele obsidian flesh/stone flesh aura or terrafarmer earth magic farming build. By the time perma-shadow form farmers were all the rage I had already made my fortune and didnt need to farm no more.

::EDIT::

I still miss that game a lot. I'm constantly trying to get some friends to revisit it but they don't want to because there is no jumping mechanic in game.

 

[aktpu]

This isn't what Horizon needed so I'm glad

 

[neatfeatguy]

It's because Blade & Soul cannibalized from the Aion playerbase, and Aion split into Aion and Aion Classic further fragmenting the already fragmented playerbase. Moreso with Classic getting more updates and going an alternate route where they didn't remove the crafting system, didn't release the Spellsinger (yes, song-magic via magical instruments), Gunslinger, and Aethertech classes, and instead added alternate new classes. And now, Aion 2 is coming in Fall/Winter 2025, which will take lessons learned from Aion and Aion Classic and combine them into a new sequel using UE5, a more responsive combat system, and a greater focus on PvE and a grand story, rather than Aion's risk vs rewards setup of being all PvPvE in most zones and the risk of getting ganked while one was just doing simple gathering quests.

In parallel, B&S is also getting a remake under B&S Neo which reduces player pain points with the original and makes it more accessible.

So at any rate, Aion's inevitable shutdown is closing in. I did log in after nearly 5 years just to explore it in a bit of nostalgia, and I admit I miss my time on it, and the lore that drew me to it in the first place. It's also one of the very rare MMOs that had true verticality with the ability to fly and fight in certain zones.

I went back to Aion just after it went F2P and noticed all the boosted experience you get and other little - you found a box! Oh...it's locked. You can buy a key from the online store to unlock it! No thanks. Then the boosting system for adding levels to your items - don't want to fail? Buy items from the store! Lots of aspects of the game started becoming locked behind real money transactions for the littlest of things.

I do miss the game how it originally was. I played a spiritmaster when the game launched - the most under powered class. DOTs for many attacks and a spirit that wasn't all that great or useful in PvP encounters. Sorcerers where the sought after magic class, they could hand out damage so fast.... The SM class did well when just out and about doing simply tasks when playing PvE or in most group instances, but once it came to PvP you got slaughtered. In a PvP instance if it was 1v1 I could usually survive long enough to escape, but never kill my attacker. SMs were rarely sought after for groups and were rarely played in general because of how weak they were. Once they buffed the class about 4-5 months after the launch I was just about capped with my SM and I went from barely being able to 1v1 to dominating against 1v3 - so many roots, CC, DOTs and pet improvements the SM became a dominating force for a while and everyone wanted them in their groups now.

I'd certainly be curious to see how Aion 2 plays out, but based on what NCSoft has done to their existing MMOs and all the nickel and diming crap they do I don't think anything they release from here on out will be met with any kind of excitement from me.

 

[tpuuser256]

It's because Blade & Soul cannibalized from the Aion playerbase, and Aion split into Aion and Aion Classic further fragmenting the already fragmented playerbase. Moreso with Classic getting more updates and going an alternate route where they didn't remove the crafting system, didn't release the Spellsinger (yes, song-magic via magical instruments), Gunslinger, and Aethertech classes, and instead added alternate new classes. And now, Aion 2 is coming in Fall/Winter 2025, which will take lessons learned from Aion and Aion Classic and combine them into a new sequel using UE5, a more responsive combat system, and a greater focus on PvE and a grand story, rather than Aion's risk vs rewards setup of being all PvPvE in most zones and the risk of getting ganked while one was just doing simple gathering quests.

In parallel, B&S is also getting a remake under B&S Neo which reduces player pain points with the original and makes it more accessible.

So at any rate, Aion's inevitable shutdown is closing in. I did log in after nearly 5 years just to explore it in a bit of nostalgia, and I admit I miss my time on it, and the lore that drew me to it in the first place. It's also one of the very rare MMOs that had true verticality with the ability to fly and fight in certain zones.

I remember Aion going to sh*t when BnS released. The main appeal of BnS was the graphics and dynamic combat. It was time to move on really

 

[Gucky]

Canceling an MMO? How sad... /s

Now they should get the lead out making Forbidden West available on GOG.
@ Guerilla/NCSOFT/Sony
Seriously folks, let's get on it, eh?

EDIT: Correction for accuracy.

Won't happen. Horizon Forbidden West needs an PSN account, which is used like an DRM and GOG wants to be DRM-free.

BTW the closest thing to a Horizon MMO will be:

LIGHT OF MOTIRAM on Steam

In a world overrun by colossal machines, explore the vast open world, build your base of operations, advance technology, train Mechanimals, and take on formidable bosses. Starting from the primitive age, forge a new path of development. Defy the machination, survive with mechanimals.

store.steampowered.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

Won't happen. Horizon Forbidden West needs an PSN account, which is used like an DRM and GOG wants to be DRM-free.

That's what was said about HZD and...

Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition

EARTH IS OURS NO MORE Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysterie

www.gog.com

So yeah, they need to get on it.

 

[TechLurker]

I'd certainly be curious to see how Aion 2 plays out, but based on what NCSoft has done to their existing MMOs and all the nickel and diming crap they do I don't think anything they release from here on out will be met with any kind of excitement from me.

For what it's worth, the early details revealed state they're aiming for F2P with a deep story, a more modern combat system, and cleaning up their cash shop by sticking mostly to cosmetics and battlepasses, directly citing Throne & Liberty as an example of how they'll monetize (for the record, I don't play T&L). So we'll see how bad they choose to monetize things.

 

[Gucky]

That's what was said about HZD and...

Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition

EARTH IS OURS NO MORE Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysterie

www.gog.com

So yeah, they need to get on it.

You confused 2 games.
On GOG it is the old HZD from 2020, which didn't need a PSN Account at release.
The new HZD1 Remaster does need one and is NOT on GOG.

The implementation of the forced PSN Accounts was introduced around early/mid 24, most prevalent with Helldivers 2, where the PSU Account was optional at first, but then it was enforced and then dropped. It was only dropped because the game was sold in countries where the PSN account was not available.
Later releases with forced PSN Accounts had those countries blocked on Steam.

 

[lexluthermiester]

The new HZD1 Remaster does need one and is NOT on GOG.

I don't care about that nitpicking point. Seriously? Quit reacting with your ego.

 

[Gucky]

I don't care about that nitpicking point. Seriously? Quit reacting with your ego.

That was nothing to do with ego or nitpicking.
You might want to read my edit, since I added some info at the same time you wrote your answer.

 

[lexluthermiester]

That was nothing to do with ego

You reacted when didn't need to nor did the conversation require it. That is textbook..

or nitpicking.

You made a point that has little to no relevance to what was said. The devs made a version for GOG. They can do it again. It's not magic, it's a choice. I'm encouraging them to to make good one, one that will make them more money than they are making now.

You might want to read my edit, since I added some info at the same time you wrote your answer.

Oh?
You mean...

The implementation of the forced PSN Accounts was introduced around early/mid 24, most prevalent with Helldivers 2, where the PSU Account was optional at first, but then it was enforced and then dropped. It was only dropped because the game was sold in countries where the PSN account was not available.
Later releases with forced PSN Accounts had those countries blocked on Steam.

...that? Again, not relevant. They can choose to make a version for GOG and it's users. A lot of gamers don't give a phuq about online crap. We don't need it or want it. Many of us will not tolerate it and would rather not play a game than deal with every dev's/publisher's online account crap.

So... where did you go wrong here?