Sony and Guerrilla Games announced Horizon Hunters Gathering on February 5, 2026. The three-player co-op action game arrives for PlayStation 5 and PC with crossplay support.
Horizon Hunters Gathering features tactical combat against deadly machines in team-based encounters. Game director Arjan Bak described the combat as "tactical, reactive, and deeply skill-based" in a PlayStation Blog post. The game builds on Horizon's precision mechanics while adapting them for cooperative play.
Players choose from a roster of hunters with distinct melee or ranged abilities. Each character features unique playstyles including tank, sniper, and stealth roles.
A rogue-lite perk system allows teams to craft builds between missions.
Two game modes launch with the title. Machine Incursion delivers high-intensity missions where waves of machines emerge from underground gateways, culminating in boss encounters. Cauldron Descent offers longer multi-stage trials with ever-changing rooms that push teams to their limits.
The game adopts a cartoony art style that contrasts with the photorealistic visuals of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. This aesthetic shift signals a more lighthearted approach compared to the mainline series' serious tone.
A social hub called Hunters Gathering serves as the central meeting point. Players can customize characters, upgrade gear, visit vendors, and prepare for missions in this shared space.
The narrative campaign introduces new mysteries, characters, and threats that continue expanding after launch.
Guerrilla confirmed the story remains fully canon within the Horizon universe. Studio director Jan-Bart van Beek emphasized the game "stands on its own" while maintaining continuity with existing lore.
A small-scale closed playtest begins at the end of February 2026. Interested players can register through Sony's PlayStation Beta Program. The test includes both PS5 and PC versions with crossplay functionality.
Horizon Hunters Gathering represents Guerrilla's expansion into live service multiplayer. The studio first confirmed development of a Horizon multiplayer project in December 2022. This announcement follows years of speculation about the project's direction.
The game launches alongside other major PlayStation titles scheduled for 2026. Sony's lineup includes Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games and Pragmata from Capcom, among other anticipated releases.
No release date or pricing model has been confirmed for Horizon Hunters Gathering. The game appears on Steam for wishlisting, indicating simultaneous PC availability with the PlayStation 5 version.
