According to Eurogamer.net, Horizon Steel Frontiers developer NCSoft wants to bring the upcoming MMO to PlayStation but can’t make that decision independently. Executive producer Lee Song told Japanese outlet 4Gamer that PlayStation exclusion was the “most common reaction” following yesterday’s announcement and that NCSoft has “no reason” not to release on Sony’s platform. The Horizon franchise has sold over 30 million copies across PC and PlayStation consoles, making this platform decision particularly puzzling. Lee stated “We would like to do it, but it is not something we can decide on our own,” strongly implying Sony is blocking the PlayStation release. The game is described as a “fierce survival adventure” featuring large-scale raids and advanced combat, currently planned only for PC and mobile platforms.
Sony’s Strange Move
Here’s the thing that doesn’t add up: Horizon is one of Sony’s most successful first-party franchises with those 30+ million sales. So why would they block a new Horizon game from their own platform? It’s not like NCSoft is some unknown developer – they’re massive in the MMO space. This feels like either some serious contractual weirdness or Sony protecting their single-player golden goose. Maybe they’re worried about diluting the brand? Or perhaps there’s some exclusivity deal with another platform we don’t know about yet.
Business Behind the Decision
From a business perspective, this is fascinating. Sony’s sitting on a franchise that’s moved 30 million units, and they’re apparently saying no to what would likely be another revenue stream. But think about it – maybe they see the MMO space as too risky for their premium brand. Or they could be protecting Guerrilla Games’ future single-player titles. The timing is interesting too, with Guerrilla’s studio head just revealing they’d always imagined Horizon as multiplayer. Could there be internal competition between Sony’s studios? When you’re dealing with industrial-scale gaming operations, these platform decisions involve massive infrastructure considerations – from server capacity to development tools to quality control standards.
What This Means For Players
Basically, PlayStation Horizon fans are getting left out in the cold for now. And that’s a huge chunk of the existing fanbase. The game sounds ambitious with its “large-scale raids” and survival mechanics, but limiting it to PC and mobile feels like leaving money on the table. The real question is whether this is temporary or permanent. Lee’s comments about wanting to “proceed with discussions” suggest there might be room for negotiation. But for now, if you were hoping to hunt machines on your PS5, you’re out of luck. Sometimes corporate strategy decisions just don’t make sense from the player’s perspective.
