The Horizon franchise has its next big release right around the corner, as NCSoft has announced that Horizon: Steel Frontiers is coming in the first half of 2027. NCSoft's MMORPG spin on the Horizon franchise has been kept under wraps since its reveal, while fans still await news of a potential third mainline entry to the series.
Guerrilla Games' Horizon franchise has been one of the most prolific IPs in PlayStation's portfolio. With two mainline entries, a LEGO game, a VR game, and an upcoming MMORPG, fans certainly have no shortage of great Horizon games to experience. However, when news broke in late 2025 that Horizon would, in fact, see an MMORPG from NCSoft, fans were curious as to what a multiplayer take on the traditionally single-player franchise would look like, and eventually, they got their look at Horizon Steel Frontiers with an official reveal trailer. Since then, the project has been quiet as fans await more details.
Some PS5 Gamers Will Get to Play the Next Horizon Game This Weekend
The next game in the Horizon series may not have an official release date yet, but players can check it out over the weekend.
The Horizon Steel Frontiers MMORPG is Coming in Early 2027
While the release date for Horizon Steel Frontiers hasn't been officially disclosed yet, NCSoft has indicated that the upcoming MMORPG will launch in the first half of 2027, as noted in its May 2026 Investor Relations presentation. Steel Frontiers leads the studio's 2027 portfolio, with DEFECT and Astrae Oratio in the same release window, but no other information regarding the MMO has been disclosed. Steel Frontiers is slated only for PC and mobile releases next year; however, if it becomes a huge hit, the game could likely come to PS5 at some point in the future. NCSoft just has to break through a tough live-service crowd that has only gotten tougher over the past few years.
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Horizon fans across Reddit and Twitter have been lukewarm on the prospect of an MMORPG set in the Horizon universe rather than just receiving a full-fledged third game. And disappointingly, Horizon 3 is still a long way away, according to Guerrilla Games, leaving fans unhappy with just spin-offs and outsourced games as their only new experiences in the franchise. What's more, many fans are skeptical that this game will last at all, given the tough climate for live-service games, especially given its limited PC- and mobile-only launch.
NCSoft is no stranger to great multiplayer games, such as MMORPG Cinder City, though. The Korean publisher can proudly say that it has Guild Wars 1 & 2 under its belt, along with the excellent Wildstar and Blade & Soul. Given its portfolio, it's no wonder Sony licensed the Horizon franchise to NCSoft; however, there is one major consideration regarding this studio. NCSoft tends to end support for its games more quickly than other MMORPG publishers, as evidenced by Wildstar, which lasted only 4 years before being shut down along with its development studio.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Whether or not Horizon Steel Frontiers lasts remains to be seen. Hopefully, it will be a hit and find an audience on PS5 after its initial PC and mobile launch. Other Horizon projects have found moderate to great success in place of a Horizon sequel, so there's no question that Steel Frontiers can probably make it work. In the end, however, all eyes are on what's next for a mainline Guerrilla-led Horizon project.