Sony is further ramping up its efforts to turn Horizon into a broader franchise, with new signs pointing to an expanded MMO push in South Korea. The project—long rumored to be in development with Korean MMO specialist NCSoft—appears to be gaining momentum as Sony strengthens its local presence and partnerships in the region.
### A Horizon MMO, built for a global audience
Horizon, developed by Guerrilla Games under the PlayStation Studios banner, has become one of Sony’s flagship IPs thanks to Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Alongside VR spin-offs and multimedia plans, an online game makes strategic sense: it’s a recognizable world with factions, machines, and open landscapes that lend themselves to large-scale co-op and persistent progression.
NCSoft is best known for running long-lived online titles like Lineage, Aion, Blade & Soul, and Guild Wars, and it has the infrastructure to support a big-budget live service. Previous reports have indicated the Horizon MMO has been internally codenamed and positioned as a major cross-market release, rather than a niche side project.
### Why South Korea matters to PlayStation’s live-service plans
South Korea remains one of the most competitive regions for online games, with players accustomed to deep endgame loops, frequent updates, and high service expectations. For Sony, pushing MMO development and operational expertise through a Korean partner signals it’s taking the live-service market seriously—especially after years of focusing primarily on premium single-player blockbusters.
This also aligns with Sony’s wider strategy of diversifying beyond console exclusives. In recent years, the company has been investing in PC releases, cross-media adaptations, and ongoing-service titles meant to generate recurring revenue between major tentpole launches.
### What it could mean for players
If the Horizon MMO materializes as expected, it could be one of PlayStation’s most significant experiments in persistent online worlds—potentially expanding the franchise’s reach beyond the traditional action-RPG format. The big questions will be monetization, platform plans (console, PC, or both), and whether Sony can balance the MMO grind with Horizon’s cinematic storytelling identity.
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