Guerrilla Games and NCSoft have announced Horizon: Steel Frontiers, a new MMO adaptation of the popular PlayStation franchise. Set in a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Arizona and New Mexico, the game focuses on customizable "machinehunters" battling massive machine-beasts.
Game Features and Design
Steel Frontiers is designed specifically for mobile platforms—PC, Android, and iOS—eschewing the PS5. Guerrilla's Jan-Bart van Beek emphasized mobile optimization as a design priority. Key game mechanics include riding mounts, climbing Tallnecks, and engaging in strategic combat through grappling hooks and traps. Players will tackle machine-beasts by targeting weak spots, enhancing the MMO's tactical depth.
Executive producer Sung-Gu Lee highlighted the game's focus on multiplayer dynamics. In the Deathlands, players collaborate or compete with thousands of others, sharing resources and jointly taking down colossal machines. The combat system, tailored for MMO settings, utilizes Pullcasters, trap setting, and dynamic weapon collection from defeated machines.
Development and Market Context
NCSoft, renowned for titles like Guild Wars 2, leads the development of Steel Frontiers. The project is distinct from Guerrilla's Horizon Online Project. Despite the game's announced platforms, specifics regarding pricing or release date have not been disclosed. The absence of a PS5 version suggests a strategic focus on capturing the mobile gaming audience.
