Guerrilla Games' Horizon Multiplayer: A Million-Player Target or a Preemptive Strike?
Guerrilla Games' upcoming Horizon multiplayer game is generating considerable buzz, with recent evidence suggesting ambitious player projections or perhaps a cautious approach to avoid launch-day server issues.
A recent job posting for a Senior Platform Engineer reveals a requirement for "proven experience building and operating multi-service, 1M+ user globally distributed systems." This strongly suggests Guerrilla anticipates a player base exceeding one million, hinting at significant confidence in the game's appeal. This expectation follows the success of Horizon Forbidden West and its Burning Shores DLC, though the studio has remained relatively quiet since their release, focusing on collaborations for projects like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and LEGO Horizon Adventures. However, hints of a Horizon multiplayer game have surfaced in job listings dating back to 2018, solidifying its likely existence.
Alternatively, Guerrilla's focus on a robust, million-player-capable infrastructure could be a preventative measure. The disastrous server issues that plagued Helldivers 2 at launch, due to unexpectedly high player numbers, serve as a cautionary tale. While Helldivers 2's success isn't guaranteed for the Horizon multiplayer title, proactive server planning is a wise strategy.
The Horizon multiplayer game has been in development for years, and a previous job listing hinted at a new Horizon release in 2025. Given the anticipated timeline for a third mainline Horizon entry, this 2025 release likely refers to the multiplayer project, potentially signaling an imminent announcement. The scale of Guerrilla's infrastructure preparations suggests a significant launch is on the horizon.
