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| Horizon Hunters Gathering puts three Hunters together in co-op battles against large machines across the Horizon universe. |
By Jon Scarr
Guerrilla is taking the Horizon universe in a different direction with Horizon Hunters Gathering, a three-player co-op action game in development for PlayStation 5 and PC. You’ll be able to play with friends across platforms thanks to cross-play, and your progress carries between PS5 and PC with cross-progression.
If you want an early look, there’s a closed playtest planned for the end of February. Sign-ups are happening through the PlayStation Beta Program.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Is Built Around Three-Player Hunts
This isn’t being presented as another open-world Horizon adventure. Instead, Hunters Gathering is structured around repeatable hunts where teamwork is the point. You and two other players take on machine threats together, with combat built to reward timing, positioning, and reacting as a group.
Guerrilla describes the combat as tactical and skill-based, with the series’ precision still there, but tuned for team play. In practice, that means your decisions in a fight aren’t just about your own weapons and tools. They’re also about what your team needs right now, and how you set each other up.
Two Modes Have Been Confirmed So Far
Guerrilla outlined two modes that will be part of the upcoming closed playtest.
Machine Incursion
Machine Incursion is a high-intensity mode built around waves of machines pouring out of underground gateways. The pressure builds as the waves stack up, then it leads into a boss encounter.
Cauldron Descent
Cauldron Descent is a longer, multi-stage trial where the rooms change as you push deeper. Some spaces are straight-up combat tests, while others include hidden doors that can reward your team if you’re prepared to open them. It sounds like the kind of mode that’s meant to stay fresh across repeated runs.
Hunters, Roles, And Build Choices
Instead of creating a custom character, you pick from a roster of Hunters. Each one is built around a distinct style, whether that’s melee or ranged, and they come with their own weapons and strengths.
On top of that, you can lock into roles and use a rogue-lite perk system to shape a build that fits both your preferences and your team’s plan. The goal here seems pretty clear: you’re meant to try different Hunters, mix team combinations, and adjust how you play depending on the hunt.
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| Horizon Hunters Gathering is built around three-player co-op hunts, with teams working together to take down large machines. |
A Canon Story That Keeps Going After Launch
Guerrilla isn’t sharing story details yet, but it has confirmed Hunters Gathering is canon in the Horizon timeline. Each Hunter has their own motivations and secrets that connect to a larger story, and there’s a narrative campaign that introduces new mysteries, characters, and threats.
One detail that matters is the studio says the story doesn’t stop at launch. That points to ongoing narrative updates, not just repeating the same missions forever.
A Social Hub Between Missions
Between hunts, you return to a hub called Hunters Gathering. This is where you regroup, prep for the next run, and spend time on upgrades and customization. Guerrilla says you’ll be able to visit vendors, upgrade gear, and team up with others before heading back out.
Closed Playtest Sign-Ups And Where To Watch More
The first closed playtest is set for the end of February on PS5 and PC, with access handled through the PlayStation Beta Program. If you’re interested, you can sign up and register your interest for future playtests as well.
If you want a closer look at the game as it’s being presented right now, you can also check out the video below.
PlayStation Beta Program sign-up page
This feels like Guerrilla testing a different side of Horizon, one that’s designed around coordination instead of going it alone. The closed playtest later this month should make it easier to see how the co-op structure actually holds up.
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