Horizon Hunters Gathering will open its second closed playtest from May 22 to 25, giving invited players another chance to try Guerrilla's three-player co-op spin on the Horizon universe. The new test will be available on PlayStation 5 and PC through Steam, with registration handled through the PlayStation Beta Program for both platforms.
Guerrilla confirmed the new dates in an official PlayStation Blog update, along with the first rundown of content being added after February's initial small-scale test. Players who get in this time will see two new Hunters, a playable Episode, tougher versions of returning modes and a new region called Breakers' Bounty.
The two additions to the roster are Ensa, described as an Oseram smuggler with a mercenary past, and Shadow, a Carja covert operative who commands a Stalker machine. Rem, Sun and Axle, the three Hunters from the first test, are also returning with improvements.
What is in the second playtest
The headline story content is a playable Episode set in Ashwater Valley. Guerrilla says Episodes are central to Horizon Hunters Gathering's narrative campaign, introducing mysteries, characters and mechanics as players pick a Hunter and head into the wilds against machine threats.
Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent are both back, but the second playtest is raising the challenge. Machine Incursion, the wave-based mode about underground machine gateways and boss encounters, is adding Hard and Merciless difficulty options. Cauldron Descent, a longer multi-stage trial, will include more challenging rooms.
Breakers' Bounty is the other major addition. The new region mixes dense jungles, ruined areas and a desert border filled with dangerous machines. Devil's Thirst will remain playable, as will the Gathering social space where players can meet, adjust loadouts and customize their camp.
Guerrilla is also adding Training Modules to help with onboarding. Solo players can use Hunter NPCs during Episode or Machine Incursion modes, with Rem, Sun or Axle available to assist in combat or fill an empty slot on a three-player team.
Horizon Hunters Gathering was announced in February as a co-op action game for PS5 and PC. Guerrilla said at the time that the game supports cross-play between those platforms, plus cross-progression when players use the same PlayStation account.
The studio is still framing these tests as early, limited playtests designed to gather feedback before opening the game to larger groups. Guerrilla has not announced a release date for Horizon Hunters Gathering.