I just watched NCSoft reveal a Horizon MMO—so why is Sony skipping PS5?

Why this reveal actually matters for players

NCSoft just pulled the curtain back on Horizon Steel Frontiers at G-STAR in Busan, and the headline isn’t just “Horizon gets an MMO.” It’s that Sony’s machine-hunting universe is heading to mobile first (Android/iOS) with a PC version-and no PS5 announcement. That’s a wild twist for a PlayStation flagship. The footage shows flashy co-op boss fights and a lot of familiar Horizon flair, but the platform strategy changes the conversation: this could be a Monster Hunter-style social grind built for phones, not living rooms.

Key takeaways

• Horizon Steel Frontiers is a co-op MMORPG set in the Deadlands (think Arizona/New Mexico), with character creation tied to tribes like the Nora, Tenakth, Utaru, and Oseram.
• Gameplay leans Monster Hunter-like: big multi-player machine hunts, climbing giants, planting traps on damaged parts, and turning their weapons against them.
• Mobile-first launch with a PC version; no PS5 version announced, which is… unexpected for a Sony-owned IP.
• Looks great in the demo, but questions loom about controls, monetization, and whether the slick footage was PC-targeted.

Breaking down the announcement

Horizon Steel Frontiers shifts the lens away from Aloy and toward your own custom hunter. You’ll pick a tribe (Nora, Tenakth, Utaru, Oseram) and head into the Deadlands-new ground inspired by real-world Southwest biomes. The pitch is clear: team up to topple colossal machines that require coordination, patience, and knowledge of weak points. Movement looks snappier than Guerilla’s single-player games, with ziplines, dodge chains, and quick repositioning that suits online co-op.

The biggest mechanical twist is verticality on machines themselves. The demo shows players climbing a damaged behemoth to slap down traps on exposed plates, then baiting it into stagger windows to unleash heavy damage. It’s very “Monster Hunter meets Horizon,” and that’s a compelling combo if NCSoft nails feedback, hit reactions, and role variety (trapper, ranged, support, etc.). Visually, it keeps that clean, saturated Horizon aesthetic-lush foliage, dazzling machine animations—even if it’s safe to assume the showcase leaned on the PC build.

Taekjin Kim, CCO at NCSoft, put the co-op thesis plainly: “When I discovered Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017, I was immediately captivated by its vibrant, fascinating world. The battles against colossal mechanical lifeforms were exhilarating and the mysterious story piqued my curiosity, pushing me to explore every corner of that universe. Yet I couldn’t help feeling a certain nostalgia at the idea of having to discover such an incredible world alone. I imagined how thrilling it would be to meet other players, team up, and face those gigantic machines together. From the beginning, I was convinced: fighting mechanical lifeforms would be far more exciting than fighting any fantasy monster. That vision inspired us to create an MMORPG set in this extraordinary universe.”

Why this move from Sony and NCSoft makes sense (and why it’s risky)

From Sony’s perspective, this is part of a broader push beyond the console box. PlayStation has been testing live-service waters with mixed results—some stumbles, a Helldivers 2-sized win, and a noticeable PC presence. A mobile-first Horizon spinoff broadens the audience massively and leans into social play, where communities can carry a game for years. For NCSoft, it’s a natural fit: the company cut its teeth on Lineage, Aion, and Blade & Soul, and it also publishes Guild Wars 2 through ArenaNet. Big, long-tail online worlds are their thing.

The risk? NCSoft’s mobile reputation is also tied to aggressive monetization in some regions—gear enhancement systems, time-gated energy, and pay-to-progress loops that hardcore players bounce off. The moment you say “mobile MMO,” veteran gamers brace for gacha-laced progression. If Steel Frontiers leans too hard into that model, the Horizon name won’t save it. On the flip side, a fair battle pass, cosmetic-first store, and strong cross-progression could make this the co-op hunt to beat on phones and PC.

What gamers need to know (and what I’ll be watching)

• Controls and feel: Touch controls can’t fumble climbing, aiming, and weak-point targeting. Full controller support on mobile is a must, and PC needs tight mouse/keyboard tuning.
• Group roles and build depth: If hunts devolve into DPS races, it’ll get stale fast. Clear roles, support tools, and meaningful builds will keep runs fresh.
• Content cadence: Monster-hunting lives on repeatable goals—weekly targets, rotating machine variants, and meaningful drops without predatory RNG.
• Monetization transparency: Cosmetic-first? Boosters? Gacha companions? Spell it out early. Horizon’s community won’t tolerate pay-to-win on PC.
• Cross-play and progression: If mobile and PC players can team up seamlessly, this could find a real community. Fragmented shards will sink it.

One more elephant in the room: no PS5 version (for now). I get the strategy—mobile has scale and PC houses the core MMO crowd—but it’s still ironic to see a PlayStation pillar skipping PlayStation hardware at launch. If it eventually lands on PS5 with cross-progression and a couch-friendly UI, that could be a second wind. Until then, expect the PC version to be the “real” way core players engage.

So, should Horizon fans be excited?

Cautiously, yes. The premise—co-op machine takedowns with Horizon’s creative enemy design—has huge potential. The footage looks confident, the tribal customization is a smart way to expand the world beyond Aloy, and the vertical, trap-heavy combat could scratch that Monster Hunter itch with a sci-fi twist. But execution will come down to feel, fairness, and support. If NCSoft keeps the grind respectful and the combat crunchy, Steel Frontiers could be a sleeper hit. If it leans on mobile’s worst habits, the community will bail before the first major content patch.

TL;DR

Horizon Steel Frontiers is a mobile-first (and PC) MMO that turns Horizon into a co-op boss-hunting game—think Monster Hunter with robot dinos and trap play. It looks promising, but PS5’s absence and monetization questions mean I’m excited with a raised eyebrow. Show me fair systems, tight controls, and cross-play, and I’m in day one.