Horizon Steel Frontiers unveiled: NCSOFT’s open-world MMORPG brings Horizon’s machine hunts to PC and mobile
Three years after whispers of a project in the works, NCSOFT has officially revealed Horizon Steel Frontiers at G-Star 2025. Built in collaboration with Guerrilla’s leadership, this full-scale MMORPG transports the acclaimed Horizon universe to PC via NCSOFT’s PURPLE platform and to mobile on iOS and Android, with a clear focus on play-anywhere accessibility.
Guerrilla’s Studio Head, Jan-Bart van Beek, describes Steel Frontiers as a standalone multiplayer take on Horizon that preserves the series’ spirit while embracing the unpredictable energy of thousands of players exploring the same frontier. Expect a world where alliances and rivalries shape the moment-to-moment experience—sometimes teaming up to topple towering machines, other times clashing with rival tribes or competing for scarce resources. The familiar Horizon themes of humanity, nature, and technology remain central, but in a living online world where harmony and conflict collide in unscripted ways.
On the gameplay front, NCSOFT’s Executive Producer Sung-gu Lee highlights a combat system purpose-built for MMO-scale encounters while staying true to the franchise’s tactical machine hunts. The team has layered in new mechanics that reward precision, teamwork, and on-the-fly improvisation. Break specific machine parts to create openings, then use tools like the Pullcaster to rapidly close the distance, climb onto weak points, and set traps that inflict status effects. Downed machines can drop heavy weapons you can pick up, stash on your mount, and redeploy in later battles—turning each victory into momentum for the next.
Cooperation and strategy are the pillars of Steel Frontiers. Roles matter, coordination is crucial, and the game is designed to shine in massive, multi-squad showdowns. Whether you prefer carefully planned raids against colossal machines or competitive skirmishes that test your tribe’s mettle, the scale and dynamism aim to deliver the kind of emergent moments only an MMORPG can provide.
Horizon Steel Frontiers is set in the Deadlands, a new region within the series’ post-apocalyptic United States. Inspired by the diverse landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona, this frontier blends sweeping desert vistas, weathered mesas, and ancient ruins with the haunting silhouettes of machine-dominated territories. It’s a fresh backdrop for exploration, discovery, and high-stakes conflict, all grounded in the series’ signature mystery and beauty.
Key features to expect
– A full-fledged MMORPG in the Horizon universe for PC (via PURPLE) and mobile (iOS and Android)
– Large-scale PvE machine hunts with tactical part targeting, status effects, and trap-based strategies
– Hints of PvP alongside cooperative play, including tribal competition and resource conflicts
– The Pullcaster for rapid traversal, mounting, and on-machine combat opportunities
– Lootable machine weapons you can carry on mounts and reuse in subsequent battles
– Role-based team play designed for seamless cooperation and big, cinematic encounters
– A new region called the Deadlands, inspired by New Mexico and Arizona
Why it matters
Bringing Horizon’s methodical, part-focused combat to an MMO is an ambitious move, and early impressions suggest it retains the identity fans love while opening the door to truly unpredictable, player-driven stories. The play-anywhere approach across PC and mobile broadens the frontier further, inviting a massive, global player base to share in the hunt—whether you’re dropping in for a quick mobile session or organizing a large-scale raid on PC.
More details, including deeper dives into classes, progression, social systems, and endgame activities, are expected to roll out following the G-Star 2025 announcement. For fans of the series and MMO players alike, Horizon Steel Frontiers looks poised to deliver expansive exploration, high-stakes cooperation, and the thrill of adapting on the fly when machines—and rival tribes—turn the tide.
