PlayStation Publishing Reveal Horizon Hunters Gathering, Guerrilla's New Co-Op Action Game

Why It Matters

The launch expands the Horizon brand into multiplayer, tapping the lucrative co‑op market and strengthening PlayStation's cross‑platform portfolio. It also positions Sony against rivals like Monster Hunter by offering a fresh, team‑focused experience on PC and console.

Key Takeaways

• Horizon Hunters Gathering adds co‑op to Horizon franchise
• Supports up to three players on PS5 and PC
• Features cartoony art style, distinct from previous titles
• Two modes: Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent
• Rogue‑lite perk system customizes Hunter builds

Pulse Analysis

The Horizon franchise has long been synonymous with single‑player, narrative‑driven adventure, but Horizon Hunters Gathering marks a strategic pivot toward cooperative gameplay. By embracing a lighter, more stylized aesthetic, Guerrilla aims to attract both series veterans and newcomers who favor fast‑paced, team‑oriented action. The decision to launch simultaneously on PC and PS5 reflects Sony’s broader push to broaden its ecosystem, leveraging the growing demand for cross‑platform titles that can capture diverse gamer demographics while mitigating platform‑lock constraints.

Gameplay depth is anchored in two distinct modes: Machine Incursion, a high‑intensity wave‑survival scenario, and Cauldron Descent, a multi‑stage trial that rewards exploration and tactical coordination. The inclusion of a rogue‑lite perk system empowers players to tailor each Hunter’s melee or ranged capabilities, fostering replayability and strategic diversity. Moreover, the vibrant social hub serves as a persistent gathering space, encouraging community building, gear upgrades, and seamless matchmaking—features that are increasingly vital for sustaining long‑term player engagement in the live‑service era.

From a business perspective, Horizon Hunters Gathering reinforces PlayStation Publishing’s ambition to diversify its portfolio beyond flagship single‑player exclusives. By entering the co‑op niche dominated by titles like Monster Hunter, Sony not only expands its revenue streams but also strengthens its foothold in the PC market, where multiplayer ecosystems thrive. The game's canon status ensures narrative continuity, preserving brand equity while opening avenues for future expansions, DLC, or seasonal content that can drive ongoing monetization and keep the Horizon universe vibrant for years to come.

PlayStation Publishing reveal Horizon Hunters Gathering, Guerrilla's new co-op action game

By Liam Dawe · 5 Feb 2026 at 4:06 pm UTC

The Horizon universe expands with PlayStation Publishing and Guerrilla Games announcing the co‑op action game Horizon Hunters Gathering that’s coming to PC. Revealed today, it has a much softer, more cartoony look compared with the previous single‑player Horizon games.

Since this will be a multiplayer game, I’m hoping it won’t be using the PlayStation Overlay that causes the multiplayer mode for Ghost of Tsushima DIRECTOR’S CUT to not work with Proton on Linux. We’ll have to wait and see on any anti‑cheat issues that may come up too.

Announcement trailer

(YouTube video – cookies required to view)

From the announcement post:

Horizon Hunters Gathering is a cooperative action game (developed by Guerrilla for PS5 and PC) that 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.

The foundation of Horizon Hunters Gathering centers around challenging and replayable hunts. Today we’re revealing two game modes: Machine Incursion, a high‑intensity mission where waves of machines pour out from underground gateways, led by a formidable boss; and Cauldron Descent, a longer, 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.

In Horizon Hunters Gathering, you choose from a roster of uniquely skilled Hunters – each with distinct melee or ranged playstyles and weapons – and select Hunter roles further embedded with a rogue‑lite perk system to craft the build that best suits your style and your team.

These Hunters have their own motivations and personal struggles, which comes together in new stories we want to tell in the world of Horizon. The game has a narrative campaign which will introduce new mysteries, characters, and threats, but we’re keeping it under wraps for now. What we can say is that Hunters Gathering is fully canon and its story doesn’t stop at launch!

As you hunt dangerous machines in the wilds, you’ll travel through a range of environments that bring missions and stories to life. Each location offers its own atmosphere, challenges, and opportunities for your team to explore and master together.

Between missions, you’ll return to Hunters Gathering: a vibrant social hub where players can connect, prepare, and celebrate victories together. Here, you can customize your Hunters, visit vendors, upgrade gear, and team up for your next adventure.

I’m getting a Monster Hunter vibe from this one – that seems to be what they’re going for.

Source: Sony blog announcement

Platform: Proton / Wine

Official link: Steam page

Article originally published on GamingOnLinux.com.