As always, we have all the details packed below - but seeing is believing! So don’t miss our full breakdown video about everything we know so far about Horizon Steel Frontiers. But if you still prefer to take your time and dive into every feature step by step, our detailed breakdown is waiting for you right below..
Horizon Steel Frontiers is the freshly announced entry in the Horizon universe – and it looks absolutely stunning ! But instead of the familiar single-player RPG experience we know from Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West , this time, Guerrilla Games is taking things in a completely new direction.
Get ready for a shared open world MMO experience, where team-based machine hunting is at the heart of everything. So, let's dive into everything we know so far - and some big open questions that still remain!
Who's Developing Horizon Steel Frontiers?
The game is being developed by Guerrilla Games in collaboration with NCSOFT , who is also handling publishing duties. Guerrilla, of course, is the studio behind the first two Horizon titles, while NCSOFT is known for online titles such as Lineage and Blade & Soul .
The game is currently in development for PC, iOS, and Android with full cross-play support. However, there's no PlayStation version planned - something that has caused quite a bit of confusion among fans, as it's the first Horizon game not coming to consoles.
Horizon Steel Frontiers will be free-to-play , though details on its monetization model are still unclear. We'll definitely keep our eyes peeled for updates on that front. As for release timing, it's expected to arrive sometime in late 2026 or early 2027 .
Setting & Story
Unlike past Horizon games where you controlled Aloy, players will now create their own customizable characters from various Horizon tribes - such as the Nora or Oseram. The character creator seems to have a lot of depth, even allowing players to share their creations.
The story unfolds in a brand-new post-apocalyptic region known as the Deadlands (or possibly the Deathlands depending on early leaks). The region takes inspiration from the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico , continuing the franchise's tradition of reimagining real-world locations in a machine-ravaged future.
Players will traverse vast open landscapes, hunt massive machines, and uncover long-lost secrets of the old world. Exploration plays a major role, with grounded and flying mounts available for travel across the Deadlands.
And yes - you can climb Tallnecks again! Just imagine classic Assassin's Creed towers... but this time, they're walking around. You'll gather resources, craft items, and take on quests and bounties while exploring this living, breathing world.
At its core, Horizon Steel Frontiers borrows elements from Monster Hunter - you'll hunt down massive machines with a team in a cooperative MMORPG environment. Players can target weak points , use tools like the Pullcaster to climb, or set traps to immobilize their prey.
You can even pick up dropped machine weapons and turn them against your foes - the classic Horizon "Uno Reverse" moment. Customization plays a big role too: you can fine-tune both your character's appearance and their combat abilities to fit your playstyle.
Teamwork & Multiplayer Focus
Multiplayer is not just an afterthought - it's the main focus of Horizon Steel Frontiers. The game will feature large-scale raids and boss hunts , where groups of players must coordinate to take down colossal mechanical beasts. Different roles will matter - from damaging weak points to climbing and setting traps.
Of course, if it's anything like Monster Hunter, there's always the chance that chaos takes over - with everyone doing their own thing in the heat of battle.
- Large-Scale Raids: Team up with dozens of players.
- Tribal PvP: Rival tribes clash over resources.
- Guild Systems: Form "hunter clans" with bounties and events.
- Housing & Forts: Player and guild bases confirmed.
Machines & Enemies
We don't have the full roster of enemies yet, but the trailers already showcase plenty of new machine types - from massive sandworm-like beasts to T-Rex-style predators. Expect both brand-new designs and returning classics from previous Horizon entries.
However, unlike the older games, Horizon Steel Frontiers is fully online . There's no couch co-op or single-player mode, but it does feature cross-platform progression between mobile and PC. Balancing those experiences will be tricky, especially if the mobile version ends up being the primary focus.
PlayStation's Surprising Absence
One of the biggest question marks surrounding the game is its absence from PlayStation . Since Sony owns the Horizon IP, the move is unexpected. The game will launch exclusively via NCSOFT's Purple Launcher , not on Steam or Epic Games Store.
This has led many to speculate that Horizon Steel Frontiers might be a mobile-first project , with a PC port designed to extend its reach. That, combined with its free-to-play model, strongly suggests a business-driven decision rather than a creative one.
Interestingly, Guerrilla's job listings have long hinted at a separate large-scale MMO set in the Horizon universe - with infrastructure designed for millions of players . That game is still in development and appears to be distinct from Steel Frontiers.
Meanwhile, there's also the ongoing Sony vs. Tencent lawsuit, surrounding Tencent's upcoming title Light of Motiram , which Sony claims was a little too close to Horizon in concept. This might explain some of the strategic maneuvering happening behind the scenes.
So while Steel Frontiers might fill the gap until Guerrilla's second MMO releases, it also raises the question: are we seeing two Horizon MMOs in the making?
Final Thoughts
All things considered, Horizon Steel Frontiers looks promising - if somewhat puzzling. The idea of a shared-world Horizon experience is exciting, but the lack of console support and free-to-play model leave some fans cautious.
Still, as the saying goes: Don't judge a book by its cover. We'll know more as development progresses, and hopefully, Guerrilla's other Horizon project will complement this one with a more traditional experience.
Until then, we can only wait and watch - but the potential is definitely there.