Horizon Steel Frontiers Overview – A Comprehensive Look at an MMORPG
Great news for fans of the Horizon series! The developers have recently announced a new game set in this universe called Horizon Steel Frontiers. This game is a co-op hunting title that offers a completely different experience from the single-player entries, focusing on teamwork and hunting various mechanized creatures. After watching the previews and this Horizon Steel Frontiers overview, the first thing that comes to mind is its similarity to Monster Hunter, as their combat mechanics share many core ideas.
This game is built as an MMORPG, where you hunt gigantic robots, setting it apart from the single-player titles like Horizon Zero Dawn.
Horizon Steel Frontiers Release Date
According to the creators, the game is set for release in 2026 on PC. A point that may raise questions for many fans is that it's currently announced only for PC and mobile, with no mention of PlayStation or other platforms. It's unclear whether the game won't be released on other consoles at all or if it will come to them after a delay.
New Mechanics in Horizon Steel Frontiers
A standout new mechanic is the use of the Pullcaster as a tool similar to Spider-Man's web-slinger. This significantly increases movement speed and mobility, allowing you to launch the cable to scale these giant machines or even lasso and tame a wild mechanical "bull" like a cowboy.
Character Creation and Tribe Selection
When you start the game, you can create your character based on your preferences, with many customization options for details like face paint, hairstyle, and body type. After that, you must choose a tribe from among the Nora, Carja, or Oseram. Only after this does the real adventure begin.
Combat Mechanics and Gear Analysis
The core of this game is built around Co-op. To succeed, you must coordinate effectively with your team, which requires familiarity with combat mechanics and your available gear:
Similar to previous Horizon games, you can target and destroy specific components on machines during combat. You should focus on their weak points, first using the Ropecaster to pin them down and then the Grapple to attempt to override/tame them.
When fighting machines, parts—including their weapons—can break off and fall to the ground. You can pick up these weapons and use them against the machines or mount them on your own character.
Several new weapons for Horizon Steel Frontiers have been confirmed so far, such as the Large Sword, Dual Blades, and the Classic Bow.
Teams are divided based on roles: some players act as a Tank to draw the machine's attention, while others focus on dealing damage or inflicting Status Effects.
Rift Anomalies in the Game
One exciting, dynamic challenge is the sudden appearance of Rift Anomalies, which alter the environment. These anomalies can be highly beneficial or very dangerous. They might spawn a large amount of in-game currency (Gold) or attract many dangerous machines to your location.
It's also worth noting the presence of locations like Cauldrons, which essentially serve as the game's dungeons. Here, teams of four must work together to solve puzzles and defeat machines.
The Use of AI in Horizon Steel Frontiers
It has been confirmed that Generative AI has been used extensively in the development of this game. According to the Horizon Steel Frontiers development team, they have utilized AI tools for programming, testing, and even designing NPC systems. While some players may have reservations about this, the developers believe it has greatly helped optimize patches and enhance the appeal and intelligence of the battles.
The Game's Monetization System
The good news is that the Game is FREE TO PLAY and, unlike many similar titles, Horizon Steel Frontiers is reportedly not "Pay-to-Win." Its revenue model will likely be based on cosmetic items and potentially a Battle Pass.
Based on what we've seen in the Horizon Steel Frontiers previews, we can expect a highly engaging game with varied and intense challenges. There will be co-op PVE hunts and perhaps even PVP, though we can't say much more for now. All we need is a little patience.
