Guerrilla Games has confirmed Horizon: Hunters Gathering, a third-person co-op action game set in the Horizon universe. It is a full release focused on squad-based machine hunting with a three-player cap.
You and two others play as distinct Hunters with their own weapons, builds, and roles. The goal is to work together and take down dangerous machines using coordinated tactics.
From Concept to Reveal
The announcement came via the PlayStation Blog. Game director Arjan Bak said the team has wanted to implement co-op features since Horizon Zero Dawn.
They waited for the right time and platform. After two successful single-player games, Guerrilla now has the headroom and player base to try something team-oriented without abandoning the series’ identity.
Built for Strategy, Not Just Action
This is not Horizon with multiplayer – the gameplay has been rebuilt around group strategy. Players must adapt in real time to machines that respond differently depending on your team. The emphasis is on reaction and synergy. Encounters push teams to communicate and optimize their roles.
Two Gameplay Modes at Launch
The game launches with two main modes. Machine Incursion is a wave-based challenge with rising threats. Machines rise from the ground and hunt your squad, with each round ending in a boss-tier machine.
Cauldron Descent is a multi-stage dungeon mode based on the series’ Cauldrons. It features shifting layouts and scaling rewards.
Hunters and Custom Loadouts
You will not be playing as clones. The game includes pre-built Hunters with different strengths. Some excel at crowd control. Others bring high-damage tools or support mechanics like healing or traps.
A build system lets you adapt your loadout based on mission and team comp. One match might call for stealth and traps. Another could favor explosives. Between Hunter selection and customization, replay value should be high.
Central Hub and Progression
There is a hub zone where players regroup, prep, and interact. The hub is the game’s social center and planning space.
Here you spend loot, change builds, and plan the next run. This zone supports community features and progression loops. It is where players see the results of success and failure before heading back into the field.
Platforms and Testing Plans
Horizon: Hunters Gathering is coming to PC and PlayStation 5. There is no release date, but closed testing begins at the end of February.
We should monitor Guerrilla and PlayStation feeds for access news. Signups will likely require a Sony account and fill quickly.
Why Co-Op Fits the Horizon World
The Horizon setting fits co-op well. Machine designs emphasize weak points, elemental counters, and readable behavior. In single-player, one character juggles all of that. In a squad, it becomes a tactical puzzle.
Coordinating Overload attacks or chaining traps could change how players fight. The structure supports strategy without needing new enemy types.
Squad Size and System Depth
Three-player squads raise questions. Why three instead of four? Will matchmaking work with fewer players? How deep is the build system?
The answers will come with testing. For now, the pitch is solid: bring friends, sync roles, and take on massive machines as a squad. Guerrilla is not chasing trends. They are building on the series’ strengths and testing how far they can push team-based machine hunting.