"Was there a first one?": Guerrilla to hold second Horizon Hunters Gathering test in May

Guerrilla Games is preparing for the second testing phase of the co-op action game Horizon Hunters Gathering, which will take place this month.

The first closed test was held in February 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC. At that time, players had access to three heroes and two game modes. Now, the team is significantly expanding the game's content.

The second playtest for Horizon Hunters Gathering will run from May 22 to 25 and will also be available only on PS5 and PC. Access to the test is exclusively through pre-registration via this link.

The main new feature will be two new characters. Players will be able to try out Ensu — a charismatic Oseram smuggler with a mercenary past, and Shadow — a mysterious Carja operative who controls a dangerous Stalker-type machine.

Special attention in the new test will be given to episodes — story missions that reveal the lore, characters, and game mechanics. The focus will be on the Ashwater Valley, which hunters will have to defend from a machine invasion.

The Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent modes also return, but now with increased difficulty.

Among the new locations, a region with dense jungles and ruined structures on the border with a scorched desert inhabited by dangerous machines stands out. Players will also retain access to the two regions that were introduced during the first test.

Some commentators under the trailer jokingly ask when the first test even was.