NCSOFT to launch Horizon on mobile in late 2026

A promotion image of NCSOFT's Horizon Steel Frontiers / Courtesy of NCSOFT

BUSAN — NCSOFT plans to release a PC and mobile version of Sony’s global hit Horizon series as early as late next year, the company announced during the world premiere of the much-touted game’s footage at G-STAR 2025, Thursday.

NCSOFT unveiled video footage of the pre-alpha version of Horizon Steel Frontiers during the opening session of the game convention. For years, there had been speculation that NCSOFT would use the Horizon series’s intellectual property, but this is the first time the company has officially announced that it is developing a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) as an official entry in the Horizon franchise.

“Except for the initial concept stage, we have been working with Sony Interactive Entertainment and Guerrilla Games for about four years,” NCSOFT Executive Producer Lee Sung-gu said during the premiere.

“We are targeting a global audience, and while it was important to respect the existing Horizon fandom, we also wanted to show the fun of MMORPGs to players who may not be familiar with the genre … We cannot confirm the exact timeline, but it could be released in early 2027 or late 2026, which means it is roughly a year away.”

Developed by Dutch-based Guerrilla Games, the Horizon franchise is one of the key titles for Sony’s PlayStation devices, gaining global popularity with its unique setting of tribal humans hunting advanced, animal-like machines. As of July 2025, it has sold more than 38 million copies worldwide.

Based on Horizon’s apocalyptic setting and its signature battles against massive mechanical creatures, Horizon is being developed to shift from the original single-player format to strategic cooperation among users on both PC and mobile. Lee stressed that the core concept is “the fun of taking down overwhelming machines together.”

NCSOFT said Horizon Steel Frontiers will strengthen the franchise’s signature wire action and introduce systems such as looting to deliver more dynamic and diverse combat experiences.

NCSOFT's Horizon Steel Frontiers Executive Producer Lee Sung-gu speaks during a press conference at the company’s G-STAR 2025 booth in Busan, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

Regarding the title’s monetization strategy, Lee said Horizon Steel Frontiers will use “a soft business model preferred by global users,” noting that “gacha play (randomized rewards) or Korean-style business models will not be used.”

Along with Horizon Steel Frontiers, grabbing gamers’ attention at G-STAR 2025 was AION 2, set to launch on Nov. 19 in Korea and Taiwan through PC and mobile. A sequel to the company’s 2008 hit title AION, it is an MMORPG featuring more action-oriented gameplay, including expansive player-versus-environment content, a manual control-based combat system and enhanced freedom of aerial movement.

While building upon the storyline of a conflict between the two main factions — Elyos and Asmodian — the game adds various new elements, including flight-based mobility, a world that is 36 times larger than the previous title, and manual controls. At G-STAR, visitors were able to test one of the dungeons before the official release.

“NCSOFT aims to showcase our unique identity in different directions,” NCSOFT CEO Kim Taek-jin said. “We want to present the essence of MMORPGs from a new angle while offering fresh experiences in shooting and action … Our new project will demonstrate our passion for pursuing a new shade of MMORPGs.”

Visitors walk past NCSOFT’s booth at G-STAR 2025 in Busan, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo.