Sony’s fledgling mobile strategy is slowly coming into focus.
Earlier this week, it announced Ratchet & Clank: Galaxy Rangers, an arena-based multiplayer shooter for mobile.
And now, ahead of G-STAR in Korea, the long-rumoured MMO from NCSoft Horizon Steel Frontiers has been revealed. It’ll be available on PC and mobile, with no mention of the PS5 right now.
While we won’t repost the trailer here just yet – you can watch it on The Verge – it shows a hunter taming mechanical beasts, just like in the main Horizon games.
However, the twist with this MMO adaptation – which is focusing on mobile first and foremost – is that you’ll be doing so alongside “thousands” of other players.
Here’s what Guerrilla’s Jan-Bart van Beek said in the leaked press release:
“Horizon Steel Frontiers is a full-fledged MMORPG that NCSoft has built specifically for mobile. With Steel Frontiers, you can step into this world anywhere, anytime. Players take on the role of machine hunters, chasing opportunity in a region called the Deathlands. This is inspired by Arizona and New Mexico. You’re sharing the frontier with thousands of other players, sometimes working together to take down machines and other times competing with rival tribes or fighting over resources, and that mix of cooperation and competition creates moments that you could never script.”
Unlike in the main Horizon games, you won’t be playing as Aloy but will instead create your own character, although the various personalisation options available remain consistent with the main game’s tribes.
This looks like an impressive adaptation, which will surely grow the franchise’s appeal in Asia if it can maintain the series’ core gameplay tenants. It also puts into focus why Sony has been so litigious with copycat Light of Motiram.
There’s no release date right now, but NCSoft says it wants to release the title as soon as possible. Expect pre-registration to open shortly after the game’s official announcement, which we’d expect this week.
