Sony and NCSoft have officially announced Horizon: Steel Frontiers, a brand-new MMORPG set in the world of Horizon. The game is in development for iOS, Android, and PC, and marks the first time the series will expand beyond the PlayStation ecosystem.

Revealed during G-STAR 2025 in South Korea, Steel Frontiers is being built in collaboration between Guerrilla Games and NCSoft, known for online hits like Lineage and Guild Wars. It’s described as a “massively multiplayer adventure” that combines Horizon’s mechanical beast hunting with the social depth of an MMO.

A New Frontier

Set in a region called the Deadlands, Steel Frontiers introduces players to an entirely new story in the Horizon universe. Instead of following Aloy, players will create their own hunter and explore the frontier with others. The world is described as larger and more dynamic than anything in the series so far, filled with new machines and ancient ruins waiting to be uncovered.

Early concept art shows familiar machines alongside brand-new types including a massive serpentine creature that looks built for large-scale raid encounters. The trailer ends with a short tease: a glimpse of a player standing atop a fallen Tallneck as dozens of other hunters rally across a desert plain.

Cross-Platform and Accessible

Unlike the mainline PlayStation titles, Steel Frontiers will be fully cross-platform, allowing PC and mobile players to play together. On PC, the game will run through NCSoft’s Purple launcher, which supports keyboard, mouse, or controller play.

The decision to focus on mobile and PC has sparked plenty of discussion among fans. For Sony, this move could signal a new phase for PlayStation’s biggest franchises bringing them to wider audiences through connected online worlds.

There’s no word yet on whether the game will ever come to PS5 or PS6, but given the company’s recent push into live service projects, a console version later down the line wouldn’t be surprising.

The MMO Side of Horizon

NCSoft says that Horizon: Steel Frontiers won’t just be a standard mobile MMO with the Horizon name slapped on. The studio is promising real-time action combat, character progression, and large-scale cooperative hunts where dozens of players can take down machines together.

Customisation will play a big role players can craft gear, modify weapons, and align with different tribes that each have their own skills and philosophies. Some tribes will focus on stealth and technology, while others lean into brute force and mechanical mastery.

The development team also confirmed there will be solo-friendly content, ensuring players who prefer exploring alone still have plenty to do.

When’s It Coming?

A specific release date hasn’t been announced yet, but Horizon: Steel Frontiers is aiming for a late 2026 or early 2027 launch worldwide. Pre-registration on iOS and Android is expected to open sometime next year.

A Bold New Chapter

The Horizon series has always been known for its sweeping landscapes, mechanical wildlife, and deep lore. Moving into the MMO space opens the door to something entirely different a world that’s not just explored, but shared.

If Steel Frontiers can capture the scale and beauty of the console games while adding meaningful multiplayer systems, it might be one of the most ambitious spin-offs Sony has ever produced.

For now, all eyes are on NCSoft and Guerrilla. They’ve got a big challenge ahead and a lot of potential to create something special.