Horizon Hunters Gathering Second Playtest: Dates, Sign-Up, PS5 and PC Details

Horizon Hunters Gathering is getting a second closed playtest, giving more players a chance to try Guerrilla’s co-op action spin-off before launch. The next test runs from May 22 to May 25, 2026, and it will be playable on both PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.

For Horizon fans, this is one of the biggest updates so far. The second playtest is not just a repeat of the first test. Guerrilla is adding new Hunters, a playable Episode, extra difficulty, a new region, better onboarding, and solo-friendly support through Hunter NPCs.

If you missed the first playtest or want another chance to try the game, this is the moment to register.

Horizon Hunters Gathering Second Playtest Dates

The second Horizon Hunters Gathering closed playtest will run from May 22 to May 25, 2026.

Playtest Schedule

Start Date: May 22, 2026
End Date: May 25, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam
Access Type: Closed playtest
Registration: PlayStation Beta Program
Internet Required: Yes

Because this is a closed playtest, signing up does not guarantee access. Selected players should receive details if they are invited.

How to Sign Up for Horizon Hunters Gathering Playtest

Registration is handled through the PlayStation Beta Program for both PS5 and PC players. That means even PC players need to use the PlayStation registration route.

How to Register

1. Go to the PlayStation Beta Program page.
2. Sign in with your PlayStation account.
3. Look for Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest interest.
4. Register your interest for PS5 or PC access.
5. Watch your email for invite details.
6. Follow any instructions if selected.

If the sign-up link does not work, sign in on PlayStation.com first, then try again.

Important Sign-Up Notes

• Signing up does not guarantee access.
• The playtest is confidential.
• You need an internet connection to participate.
• PC access is through Steam.
• Registration is through PlayStation Beta Program, not a separate Steam-only form.

Prepare Your PS5 and PC Setup →

What Is Horizon Hunters Gathering?

Horizon Hunters Gathering is a co-op action game set in the Horizon universe. Instead of following the same open-world structure as Horizon Zero Dawn or Horizon Forbidden West, this spin-off focuses on team-based machine hunting, tactical combat, unique Hunters, and replayable missions.

Players choose from different Hunters, build roles, fight machines, and work with other players through high-intensity missions and multi-stage challenges.

Horizon Hunters Gathering at a Glance

Developer: Guerrilla
Genre: Co-op action
Universe: Horizon
Platforms: PS5 and PC
Playstyle: Team-based machine hunting
Main Focus: Hunters, roles, machines, missions, and cooperative combat

The game is still in development, so the playtest exists to help Guerrilla gather feedback and improve the experience before wider release.

What Is New in the Second Playtest?

The second playtest includes several major additions compared with the first test. Guerrilla is adding new playable content, new characters, new difficulty options, and support for players who want to test the game solo.

New Content Confirmed

• Two new Hunters
• A playable Episode
• Added difficulty options
• New region called Breakers’ Bounty
• Training Modules
• Hunter NPC support for solo players
• Returning modes with higher stakes
• Access to Devil’s Thirst and the Gathering social space

This makes the second test much more interesting for players who already tried the first one.

Two New Hunters: Ensa and Shadow

The second playtest introduces two new Hunters: Ensa and Shadow.

Ensa

Ensa is described as an Oseram smuggler with a mercenary past. That gives her a strong personality hook and should make her appealing to players who like rugged, practical characters with a rough history.

Shadow

Shadow is a mysterious Carja covert operative who commands a Stalker machine. That instantly makes Shadow one of the most interesting additions in the playtest because machine control is a powerful idea inside the Horizon universe.

Why the New Hunters Matter

New Hunters matter because the game depends heavily on team composition and playstyle. If each Hunter has a distinct role, weapon style, or tactical identity, the game can create more replay value and stronger team strategies.

Existing Hunters Are Also Improved

The returning Hunters — Rem, Sun, and Axle — are also receiving improvements. Guerrilla has not framed this as a simple content drop. The second test is also based on feedback from the first playtest.

That matters because early tests are not only about showing content. They are about refining controls, balance, onboarding, team roles, difficulty, and the overall feel of combat.

Why Improvements Matter

Better returning Hunters can help with:

• Balance
• Team variety
• Combat feel
• Solo testing
• Role clarity
• Replayability
• Player feedback response

This is a good sign for players who want Guerrilla to keep iterating before launch.

Playable Episode: Save Ashwater Valley

The second playtest includes a playable Episode. Episodes are important because they connect directly to the game’s narrative campaign.

In this test, players will head into the wilds to help save Ashwater Valley from a horde of machines.

Why Episodes Matter

Episodes can help the game feel more like a Horizon experience rather than only a mission-based co-op mode. They introduce:

• New mysteries
• New characters
• New mechanics
• Narrative progression
• Machine threats
• Team-based objectives

For players worried that Hunters Gathering might feel too separate from Horizon’s story identity, Episodes are worth watching closely.

New Region: Breakers’ Bounty

The second playtest also adds a new region called Breakers’ Bounty. This area features dense jungles, ruined environments, desert borders, and dangerous machines.

Breakers’ Bounty Details

Environment: Dense jungles, ravaged ruins, and desert edges
Threats: Dangerous machines
Objective: Save the Oseram and stop the incursion
Returns Alongside: Devil’s Thirst and the Gathering social space

A new region is important because machine hunting games need strong environments. Good terrain can change how combat feels, how teams move, and how encounters play out.

Machine Incursion Gets Hard and Merciless Modes

Machine Incursion returns in the second playtest with higher difficulty. This mode sends waves of machines through underground gateways and ends with a major boss threat.

Guerrilla is adding two new difficulty options: Hard and Merciless.

Why This Is Important

Harder difficulty gives returning players a stronger reason to come back. It also gives teams a better way to test builds, roles, and coordination.

Machine Incursion Focus

• Wave-based machine attacks
• Underground gateways
• Boss encounters
• Team coordination
• Higher difficulty modes
• More replay value

Guerrilla even teases the challenge of facing a Thunderjaw and Ravager at the same time, which sounds like exactly the kind of pressure test co-op players will want.

Cauldron Descent Also Returns

Cauldron Descent is the longer, multi-stage challenge mode. It pushes teams through machine encounters, hidden doors, rewards, and deeper coordination demands.

The second playtest includes more challenging rooms for this mode.

Why Cauldron Descent Matters

Cauldrons are central to Horizon’s identity. Turning that concept into a replayable co-op challenge gives Hunters Gathering a strong connection to the wider series.

This mode should appeal most to players who enjoy:

• Multi-stage missions
• Team strategy
• Machine encounters
• Risk and reward decisions
• Hidden rooms
• Longer co-op sessions

If Cauldron Descent works well, it could become one of the game’s most important long-term modes.

Solo Players Get Hunter NPC Support

One of the most useful additions in the second playtest is support for solo players. Hunter NPCs can assist during Episode or Machine Incursion modes and may automatically fill an empty spot on a three-player team.

This matters because not every player has a ready squad.

Why Solo Support Helps

Solo-friendly support can make the playtest easier to approach for players who:

• Do not have friends in the test
• Prefer learning alone
• Want to try different Hunters
• Need help understanding team mechanics
• Want to practice before joining groups

A co-op game still needs to feel approachable for solo players, especially during testing.

Training Modules Added for Better Onboarding

Training Modules are also being added to help players understand the game and its systems.

This is a smart addition because Horizon Hunters Gathering is not a simple spin-off. It combines unique Hunters, roles, machine combat, co-op missions, perks, and tactical team play.

Training Modules Should Help With

• Learning Hunter abilities
• Understanding team roles
• Testing weapons
• Practicing machine combat
• Improving onboarding
• Reducing confusion for new players

Better onboarding can make a big difference, especially for players entering the second test without playing the first.

Upgrade Your Playtest Setup →

Is Horizon Hunters Gathering Open World?

No, based on what has been shown so far, Horizon Hunters Gathering is not structured like Horizon Zero Dawn or Horizon Forbidden West. It is a co-op action spin-off focused on machine hunting, missions, and team-based encounters.

That does not make it bad. It just means players should not expect a traditional Aloy-style open-world RPG.

Expect More Of This

• Co-op missions
• Playable Hunters
• Machine fights
• Team builds
• Social hub
• Replayable challenges
• Narrative Episodes
• Playtest-driven updates

Do Not Expect This

• A full Horizon 3-style open-world campaign
• Aloy as the central focus
• Traditional solo RPG structure
• A complete finished game during the playtest

Understanding this difference will help players judge the playtest fairly.

Should You Sign Up?

Yes, if you like Horizon, co-op action, machine hunting, or early testing. This playtest gives players a chance to try the game before launch and help Guerrilla improve the experience.

Sign Up If

• You own a PS5 or gaming PC
• You like Horizon’s machine combat
• You enjoy co-op action games
• You want to test new Hunters
• You are interested in machine-hunting gameplay
• You are comfortable with unfinished builds
• You want to give feedback

Maybe Skip If

• You only want a finished game
• You dislike closed tests
• You do not want confidentiality rules
• You only want a traditional Horizon RPG
• You prefer solo open-world exploration

For the right player, this is one of the most interesting PlayStation Beta Program opportunities of May.

Best Platform for the Playtest

Both PS5 and PC are supported, so the best platform depends on your setup.

Choose PS5 If

• You prefer console gaming
• You want a simple setup
• You use DualSense
• You play mostly on a TV
• You want stable console performance

Choose PC If

• You prefer Steam
• You want graphics settings
• You use keyboard and mouse or a custom controller
• You play with PC friends
• You want easier Discord communication

Because registration goes through PlayStation Beta Program either way, choose the platform where you are most comfortable testing action combat.

What to Do Before the Playtest

If you get invited, prepare before May 22.

Preparation Checklist

• Check your email for invite details
• Make sure your PlayStation account is ready
• Confirm your platform choice
• Free up storage space
• Update your PS5 or PC
• Prepare a headset for team play
• Read confidentiality rules
• Join only through official links
• Do not share restricted playtest content if rules forbid it

Closed playtests often have rules about screenshots, video, and streaming, so read everything carefully before posting anything online.

Final Verdict

Horizon Hunters Gathering’s second playtest is a strong update for fans who want to see how Guerrilla’s co-op Horizon spin-off is evolving. The May 22–25 test brings more than another access window. It adds two new Hunters, a playable Episode, a new region, extra difficulty, Training Modules, and solo-friendly Hunter NPC support.

The most important thing is setting expectations. This is not Horizon 3, and it is not a traditional open-world adventure. It is a co-op action game built around Hunters, machines, missions, and team play.

For Horizon fans willing to try something different, the second playtest is worth signing up for. It gives players a chance to experience the Gathering early, test new systems, and help shape the game before launch.

Getting ready for the next Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest? Prepare your PS5 or PC setup with gaming headsets, PlayStation gift cards, and PC gaming accessories.

Prepare Your PS5 and PC Setup →