Out of nowhere and seemingly determined to steal the spotlight from the Nintendo Direct that just wrapped up, a new Horizon game – Horizon Hunters Gathering – has been announced, bringing a Monster Hunter-flavored co-op action twist to the series.
Revealed on the PlayStation Blog, Horizon Hunters Gathering is being developed by Guerrilla Games for both PS5 and PC. Game director Arjan Bak says it "lets up to three players team up as heroic Hunters to protect a world under threat from deadly machines. Combat is tactical, reactive, and deeply skill-based, building on the tactical precision of the Horizon games while embracing the dynamics of team play."
So far, two game modes have been revealed – Machine Incursion and Cauldon Descent. Both of these will be playable "in our upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program on PS5 and PC," which is coming at the end of this month. The former mode will see you take on waves of machines led by a boss, all pouring out from "underground gateways," while the latter is described as a "multi-stage trial in which ever-changing rooms push Hunters to their limits, from brutal machine encounters to hidden doors that promise power and reward for teams prepared to open them."
There'll be a roster of different characters to choose from, all of which will boast "distinct melee or ranged playstyles and weapons." What's more, you'll be able to choose from perks thanks to a roguelite system to fine-tune your builds even more.
Despite being a multiplayer game, there's still going to be a narrative campaign, which is described as "fully canon and its story doesn't stop at launch!" So, make of that what you will.
"On a personal note, this is both an exciting and daunting step for us," Bak writes. "Multiplayer games have always been part of our studio's DNA, and it's where I began my own career. Bringing a co-op hunting experience into the Horizon universe is something we've envisioned for a long time, and we're approaching it with care, ambition, and passion. I hope the coming months give you a sense of the scale and complexity of what we've been building – or better yet, let you experience it yourself in a playtest."
Things are described as being "early on," so it's not clear how long we might be waiting for this one to release. However, if you're interested in an early look, you can sign up for the Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest to register your interest.
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