Guerrilla announced the second closed playtest Horizon Hunters Gathering. The testing will take place from May 22 to May 25 on PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam), and registration for both platforms opens through the PlayStation Beta Program.
After the first playtest, the team focused on improvements based on player feedback and prepared new content. The studio is also continuing to share details about the game, the world of Gathering, and planned features in Q&A sessions on Discord and social media.
What will be added in the second playtest
The new test will feature two new Hunters: Ensa, a charismatic smuggler from the Oseram tribe with a complicated past as a mercenary, and Shadow, a mysterious Carja operative who controls the Stalker machine. Rem, Sun, and Axle have also received upgrades.
A new Episode will also be available — a story chapter that introduces new puzzles, characters, and mechanics. Players need to choose a Hunter, gather equipment, and venture into the wilds to save Ashwater Valley from a horde of machines.
New region and more challenging trials
Among the new features is the Breakers’ Bounty region with dense jungles, ruined ruins, and a desert inhabited by dangerous machines. Along with it, Devil’s Thirst and Gathering — the central social zone where players can meet others, customize builds, and change camps — will remain in the test.
Two modes with higher difficulty will return: Machine Incursion with waves of machines and a boss at the end, as well as Cauldron Descent — a longer multi-stage trial with combat rooms and hidden doors. Training Modules have been added for new players, and in Solo Mode in the Episode and Machine Incursion modes, NPC Hunters will assist.
