Horizon 3 Reportedly Enters Closed Testing, But Major Gameplay Changes May Not Be Coming

It seems that Horizon 3 has taken an important step behind the scenes of development, but players expecting a major change in gameplay may need to lower their expectations a little.

According to recent reports, the third entry in the Horizon series has entered closed testing, with early impressions suggesting that the game delivers a strong level of execution worthy of Sony’s major releases. This information came from journalist Colin Moriarty, who said he had spoken with several people who tried the game during testing.

According to what has been circulated, Horizon 3 appears to be a polished and strong game in terms of quality and execution. This is not surprising given Guerrilla Games’ history with Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, as the series has been known for massive open worlds, machine encounters, high visual quality, and a clear cinematic experience.

However, the most important point in these reports is not the quality of execution, but the scale of change.

David Jaffe, the creator of the original God of War series, indicated that the gameplay in Horizon 3 seems to offer “more of the same,” in the context of discussing Sony’s approach to its major franchises. In clearer terms, the third entry may focus on improving the existing formula rather than rebuilding the experience from scratch.

For some players, this may be disappointing. The Horizon series has become known for a clear structure: a vast open world, huge machines to hunt, exploration, crafting tools, story-driven missions, stealth, ranged combat, and cinematic encounters. If the third entry follows the same path without major changes, players looking for a real leap may not find what they are waiting for.

On the other hand, Sony’s caution can be understood. Horizon has become one of PlayStation’s most prominent modern franchises, and with the series reaching its third mainline entry, especially if it is expected to conclude Aloy’s core trilogy, the company may prefer to improve the experience rather than risk changing it radically.

This strategy may be both safe and effective. Players who enjoyed the previous entries may want a bigger and more polished version of the same idea, with better combat, greater enemy variety, deeper side missions, smoother traversal, and a more impactful story.

But the risk is also clear. If Horizon 3 feels too close to Horizon Forbidden West, some may see the series as becoming too predictable. At a time when many players are clearly feeling open-world fatigue, impressive technical quality alone may not be enough if the experience does not evolve as needed.

For now, this information should be treated as unofficial. Sony and Guerrilla Games have not officially revealed Horizon 3, and details regarding the testing phase, gameplay, platforms, or release date have not been publicly confirmed.

Previous reports have also suggested that the next mainline Horizon entry may not be released soon, especially with Guerrilla working on other projects connected to the series, including experiences focused on multiplayer. Therefore, many details could still change before the official reveal or final release. 

However, the current picture painted by the rumors is fairly clear: Horizon 3 appears to still be in development, but it may not be aiming to reinvent the series. Instead, Sony may be betting on a safer entry that delivers high production quality, a familiar experience, and a polished continuation of Aloy’s journey.

If that is true, the real question will not be: will Horizon 3 look impressive? Most likely, yes. The more important question is: will offering “more of the same” be enough to keep players excited until release?