Guerrilla reportedly strips live-service elements from Horizon Hunters Gathering for co-op overhaul

Guerrilla is reportedly pivoting Horizon Hunters Gathering from a live-service title to a traditional co-op experience. The change follows negative feedback from closed playtests, suggesting the original design failed to resonate with players. By removing live-service elements and adding a story mode, the studio aims to salvage the project while reducing its scope. This move mirrors broader industry trends where live-service games face increasing scrutiny after high-profile failures.

The cost of this pivot is twofold. First, the development timeline is compressed: Guerrilla has until the end of the year to demonstrate progress or risk cancellation. Second, resources are being reallocated, with many developers reassigned to another project that will also face evaluation later this year. This reshuffling delays the next mainline Horizon single-player game, which was already years away from completion. The trade-off is clear: short-term survival of Hunters Gathering at the expense of long-term single-player roadmaps.

The overhaul highlights the risks of live-service experimentation for established studios. Sony’s broader strategy of releasing 10 live-service games by 2026 has largely collapsed, with only Helldivers 2 succeeding. Other projects, including Concord and a Last of Us multiplayer title, have been canceled or shelved. Guerrilla’s decision to downsize Hunters Gathering rather than cancel it outright suggests Sony is still hesitant to abandon the model entirely, but the repeated failures may force a reevaluation of priorities.

For engineers and developers, this case underscores the challenges of live-service development. Poor playtest feedback can trigger rapid, large-scale changes, requiring teams to adapt quickly or face reassignment. The material provided does not specify technical details of the overhaul, but the shift from live-service to co-op likely involves reworking backend systems, matchmaking, and progression mechanics. The lack of concrete technical information limits further analysis, but the broader lesson is clear: live-service games demand agile development practices and a willingness to pivot when player expectations are not met.