The next game in theHorizonfranchise will be a live-service multiplayer entry, further emphasizing Sony’s ambitions of pushing this game model. This year has been a tough one for Sony, but the upcomingHorizonmultiplayer title may be the key needed to help Sony achieve its goals. Sony has been hoping for live service to be the next step in the company’s evolution. However, the company has struggled to get this new era off the ground. A multiplayer version ofThe Last of Uswas shockingly canceled at the end of last year, but 2024 in particular has been especially hard.
The failure ofConcordhas potentially thrown a huge wrench into Sony’s live-service plans, as it has been reported that it was viewed as the future of the company.Concord’s peak player count was an abysmal 697, leading developer Firewalk Studios to take the game offline after only two weeks. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier has claimed that Guerrilla Games' next project scheduled isHorizon’s multiplayer spin-off. It’s possible that Sony is now wary of the project, butHorizonmay have the right ingredients to become Sony’s biggest live-service hit.
Horizon Could Make Sony’s Live-Service Dreams Become a Reality
A Unique World That Has Something Special to Offer
When it comes to multiplayer games, there is a lot of saturation that keeps many titles from standing out in the crowd. ForConcord, the hero shooter genre has been long-established and has been free-to-play, so it already arguably had multiple factors working against it. There wasn’t really any particularly unique detail that inspired a lot of gamers to play it, butthe multiplayerHorizongamemay be a completely different story thanks to its unique, established world.
Horizonhas the major benefit of bringing one of the most unique gaming worlds to life in recent years. With the recent announcement ofHorizon Zero Dawngetting a PS5 remaster, Guerrilla Games' fascinating post-apocalyptic setting will be shown in a fresh light. The prospect of getting to see an AI-ravaged America in a multiplayer experience is going to be the game’s biggest selling point. Seeing this world in a single-player narrative is compelling enough, but getting to enjoy it with friends seems to be a recipe for success.
Sony Embracing the Success of the Horizon Franchise
As of now, the only other exclusive multiplayer title that is on the horizon isFairgamesfrom Haven Studios. Rather,Horizonhas already been proven to be a successful franchise, and a multiplayer spin-off that has the benefit of a positive record will be a stronger choice for Sony to put its faith in.
It is currently unclear ifConcordflopping will inspire Sony to go back to the drawing board with its future goals.
As the wait continues forHorizon’s mysterious multiplayer game, it will be exciting to see more information come to light.Horizon’s upcoming spin-offsare further proof that the series has a lot to offer, and Sony may have been hoping forConcordto be the company’s future. Now, it looks like this future may have beenHorizonall along.
