The debate over the future of Horizon has been heating up since the latest developments regarding Horizon Hunters Gathering, but it seems fans of the series will have to be patient for the next major single-player chapter. While Sony and Guerrilla Games continue to expand the gaming universe, Horizon 3 appears to still be in the very early stages of development.
The information comes shortly after reports about the progress of Horizon Hunters Gathering and reveals a different picture than many players might have expected. The third main game in the series does not currently appear to be Guerrilla's main project, which significantly shifts its potential release date.
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Only a small team is working on Horizon 3
According to a Bloomberg and information provided by renowned journalist Jason Schreier, only a small section of Guerrilla Games is currently working on the next major chapter of Horizon.
Schreier claims that the information comes from people familiar with the studio's internal plans. Based on current data, Horizon 3 is still several years away from completion, with 2030 being a possible timeline, but there has been no official confirmation.
This means that these estimates should not be taken as a release date. The development of a major AAA title can change course many times, especially when it is in such an early stage.
Big gap between previous games
The long time span wouldn't be unprecedented for the series. Horizon Zero Dawn debuted in 2017, introducing the world to Aloy and a post-apocalyptic universe where humans and mechs coexist on a dramatically changed planet.
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Five years later, in 2022, Horizon Forbidden West, significantly expanding the series' world, story, and gameplay. In the meantime, Guerrilla continued to invest in the franchise through expansions and different productions.
So even if Horizon 3 is released several years after Forbidden West, the long wait won't necessarily be unusual for the franchise.
Horizon Hunters Gathering is a game changer
One of the main reasons why Guerrilla doesn't seem to have fully focused on Horizon 3 is the parallel development of other projects.
Horizon Hunters Gathering has been the focus of much discussion following reports that Sony is considering changes to the direction of the project. This development is all the more significant as the game is part of Sony's broader push to create more live-service productions.
If the project ends up changing significantly or taking longer, that could affect how Guerrilla allocates manpower . At the same time, the experience from such a venture could influence the studio's future decisions.
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A game for the PlayStation 6?
If Horizon 3 is indeed several years away, then it's hard not to have discussions about the platform it will be released on.
Given that Sony hasn't officially unveiled the game or announced a release date, it's likely that the next big chapter will be aimed at a future generation of hardware. This leaves open the possibility that it could be one of the major titles for the PlayStation 6, if development moves according to current estimates.
However, for now, everything remains unofficial. Sony has not revealed Horizon 3, nor has it confirmed that the game is in full production.
The wait can be long
For fans of the series, the news likely means that the next big journey into the world of Horizon is not in sight. Guerrilla seems to be managing multiple projects, and developing a new AAA title now requires huge resources, especially when expectations for a successor to Forbidden West are particularly high.
Until Sony makes an official announcement, 2030 or later should be treated as a possible estimate and not a given date. The only thing that is certain is that Horizon 3 remains one of the most anticipated PlayStation projects and, when it finally arrives, it will have to live up to very high expectations.
