Sony’s Struggles With Live Service Hit a New Low as Horizon Multiplayer Game by NCSoft Is Reportedly Canceled

It looks like live-service titles are slowly losing priority as Sony canceled yet another one and this time it is believed to be an MMO from the Horizon franchise. Codenamed Project H, this project was canceled alongside another project codenamed Project Skylines. This move comes after a wave of failed live-service games such as Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones, Rocksteady Studios’ Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and even Sony’s own Concord.

It is no surprise that live-service games have lost their luster especially with them being riddled with microtransactions. Unbalanced mechanics and prioritizing pay-to-win models have left many gamers disillusioned and moving away from the live service scene. With more and more live-service games being scrapped, it is evident that studios are ready to move on from this model.

Why did Sony and NCSoft cancel a Horizon MMO?

With Concord’s massive failure to dominate markets, Sony’s final hope was a Horizon MMO. However, it was recently revealed that Sony had in fact cancelled two different live-service projects from their pipeline before the alleged Horizon MMO. At this point in time, it looks like Sony is the next studio in line to do away with the live-service model. 

The Horizon MMO is just one of many live-service projects Sony has canceled. There are suggestions that a project from Bluepoint Games set in the God of War universe was a victim of the mass cancellation from Sony. It seems evident to Sony now that fans are tired of live-service games.

I still can’t believe that Bluepoint’s original game was a Live service God of War spinoff… Sony has nothing after Ghost of Yotei next year… It’s going to be rough and barren as far as Playstation first party games go, for the next 4 years…

— Hassan Javaid (@setsuken) January 16, 2025

Maybe they get the memo we don’t
Want live service games

— 🗽 (@1lasheem) January 17, 2025

Bloomberg reports that Sony is working with studios like Bluepoint Games and Bend Studios to evaluate options for the future and reduce the impact these cancellations might have. NCSoft’s Horizon MMO may be canceled however, it hasn’t affected the development of Guerrilla Games’ ambitious project titled Horizon Online.

With NCSoft’s Horizon MMO canceled, could this be the end for Sony’s live-service ambitions?

While the cancellation of the Horizon MMO is indeed a significant setback, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Sony’s live service efforts. It is unlikely that Sony will abandon the model entirely, given its potential for long-term revenue. Projects like Horizon Online from Guerrilla Games are an example of Sony exploring multiplayer experiences, albeit with a more cautious approach.

Sony’s essence however lies in its story-driven single-player games. Hits like Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarök, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and many others are prime examples of how games still resonate with gamers. 

Despite being profitable, the live-service market is an unpredictable terrain. Sony’s willingness to pull the plug on several of these projects suggests that they are reevaluating their strategy. Whether Horizon Online can succeed where others failed will depend on Sony’s ability to deliver an experience that stands out in a crowded field. Fans can only hope that the lessons learned from these cancellations lead to better results in the future.