Horizon Hunters Gathering’s second closed playtest is officially set for May 22–25, 2026. Developed by Guerrilla, the co-op Horizon spinoff is testing on PS5 and PC through Steam, and this round is notably broader than the first: it adds two new Hunters, a playable Episode, expanded difficulty settings, a new region, and deeper access to The Gathering social hub. Registration is open now, but access is not automatic.
The current public facts are firm on the essentials. The May test supports PS5-PC crossplay, the broader game supports cross-progression when progress is saved under the same PlayStation account, and the full release still has no announced launch date. Official FAQ material also confirms that the game is canon, supports up to three online players with matchmaking, offers solo play with two Hunter NPCs, and takes place after the events of Horizon Forbidden West.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Closed Playtest Dates (May 22–25, 2026)
The second Horizon Hunters Gathering closed playtest runs from May 22 through May 25, 2026. That date range appears on both the official PlayStation playtest page and Guerrilla’s May 5 update, which positions this build as the next major hands-on milestone after the smaller February test. The official FAQ adds an important detail that many sign-up guides miss: the build will only be playable during scheduled test hours inside that May 22–25 window, not as an unrestricted around-the-clock beta. Guerrilla also states that an internet connection is required.
How to Sign up for the Horizon Hunters Gathering Playtest (PlayStation Beta Program)
The official registration path is straightforward, but it is gated through the Beta Program at PlayStation rather than through a separate game-specific portal. The Beta Program page says applicants need a valid account in good standing, must live in a region where the Beta Program is available, and must meet local legal age requirements; enrollment is handled through a one-time registration form and agreement to the program terms. From there, the Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest link can be used to register interest in this specific test.
For this playtest in particular, the official FAQ narrows eligibility further: participants must be 18 or older, have access to PS5 or PC through Steam, be in an eligible region, and be able to play in English. Guerrilla also says the specific signup link automatically flags the account as interested in Horizon Hunters Gathering, and notes that anyone having trouble with the link should sign in on PlayStation.com first and try again. Registration does not guarantee access; it only puts the applicant into consideration for selection.
A key nuance is that the Beta Program itself is available across PlayStation regions, while this second Horizon Hunters Gathering test will only run in select regions that the publisher says it will communicate closer to testing time. In other words, signups are open broadly, but approval for the May 22–25 test will still depend on territory eligibility.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Playtest Platforms: PS5 and PC (Steam) Confirmed
The May 22–25 closed playtest is officially confirmed for only two platforms: PS5 and PC using Steam. Guerrilla states this directly in its May update, the PlayStation playtest page repeats it in the key-information panel, and the Steam store page itself tells players to sign up for upcoming playtests through the PlayStation Beta Program. There is no public mention of PS4, Xbox, Switch, or Epic Games Store support for this playtest.
For invited PC participants, the official FAQ says access may be delivered via a Steam key, with redemption handled through Steam’s standard product-activation flow. At the same time, the Steam store page still lists the game as “Coming soon,” which confirms that the PC playtest is happening before any public release build becomes available for general purchase or download.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Crossplay Details for PS5 and PC
Crossplay is confirmed between PS5 and PC for the playtest, and PlayStation’s broader game FAQ separately confirms that the game supports cross-progression when players log in and save using the same PlayStation account. The same FAQ also confirms up to three online players, matchmaking support, and a solo option that fills the party with two Hunter NPCs. That combination matters because it shows Horizon Hunters Gathering is being built as a flexible co-op game rather than a strictly premade-squad experience.
The one clear limitation is persistence. PlayStation says playtest progress will not carry over to future tests or to launch, so crossplay and cross-progression should be understood here as access-and-session features, not as a promise that May progress will survive into the final release.
When Horizon Hunters Gathering Playtest Invites Go Out (email Invite Timeline)
PlayStation does not promise instant acceptance after registration. Instead, the official closed-playtest FAQ says invitations will roll out gradually over the week leading up to the playtest, and that selected players will be notified by email through the PlayStation Beta Program. Since the test begins on Friday, May 22, 2026, that wording points to roughly May 15 through May 21 as the key inbox-monitoring window for this round. If an applicant is not selected, PlayStation says future test opportunities may still follow.
The language about selection also matters. The FAQ says PlayStation is drawing from Beta Program members, especially those who have noted interest in Horizon Hunters Gathering or similar games, which makes the official Horizon-specific signup link more than a generic registration step. It is the clearest way to ensure interest is recorded against this specific playtest.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Discord Server: How Testers Get Access to Private Channels
The official Discord server is central to how Guerrilla is managing communication around Horizon Hunters Gathering. When the game was announced, Guerrilla said it had launched a dedicated Discord server to keep players in the loop on updates and future playtests. In the May 5 playtest update, the studio also pointed to ongoing developer Q&As happening on Discord and social channels, which makes the server more than a community hangout; it is one of the game’s active public communication hubs.
For selected testers, Discord becomes even more important. PlayStation’s playtest page says participants in the closed test will be invited to the Hunters Gathering Discord server’s closed playtest channels. The NDA rules then narrow discussion of the build to those private tester-only channels during the test period, meaning Discord is not optional background community infrastructure for invitees; it is part of the access-and-feedback workflow.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Playtest NDA Rules: Streaming and Screenshots Policy
The May test is under a strict NDA. PlayStation’s official FAQ says participants may not stream, record, screenshot, or publicly discuss the playtest while it is live. During the active test period, discussion is limited to the private Discord channels reserved for testers. That is considerably tighter than the “share anything you want after embargo” model some betas use, and it strongly signals that Guerrilla still considers the build an in-development evaluation version rather than a public preview event.
Even after the test ends, the restriction does not fully disappear. PlayStation says participants may share some impressions after the playtest concludes, but still may not publish any captures or screenshots. Breaking the NDA may result in a ban from future playtests, so the policy is not just advisory language; it carries explicit consequences for later access.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Playable Hunters List: Axle, Rem, Sun, Shadow, Ensa
The second closed playtest includes five playable Hunters: Axle, Rem, Sun, Shadow, and Ensa. PlayStation’s playtest page lists those five by name, while Guerrilla’s May update explains that Axle, Rem, and Sun were the original playable trio from the first test and that all three have received improvements for the May build. That makes the second test both an expansion and an iteration, not a simple repetition of the February content.
Official descriptions of the roster emphasize role distinction. Guerrilla says Hunters have distinct melee or ranged playstyles and weapons, and that players layer those roles with a rogue-lite perk system to shape builds around both personal style and team composition. The Steam page reinforces that framing by describing each Hunter as uniquely skilled and built for coordinated co-op, which suggests the roster is meant to define how groups approach missions rather than merely change cosmetics.
Ensa Horizon Hunters Gathering New Hunter: Oseram Smuggler Character Details
Ensa is one of the two major roster additions in the May 22–25 playtest. Guerrilla’s official wording identifies Ensa as a charismatic Oseram smuggler with a mercenary past. That description is currently the full confirmed public profile: it establishes faction background, personality tone, and personal history, but Guerrilla has not yet published a deeper public breakdown of Ensa’s combat kit, loadout identity, or signature abilities on its official pages. The studio has said more information is coming in the weeks ahead.
What can be said with confidence is that Ensa is not being introduced as filler content. She is one of only two headline new Hunters in the second test, appears alongside the game’s first playable Episode and new region, and is part of the five-Hunter roster that defines what this playtest is meant to validate.
Shadow Horizon Hunters Gathering New Hunter: Carja Operative with a Stalker Machine
Shadow is the other new Hunter confirmed for the May test. Guerrilla describes Shadow as a mysterious Carja covert operative who commands a fearsome Stalker machine. That already makes Shadow one of the most distinctive public character reveals so far, because the official description links the Hunter not just to faction identity but also to direct machine-commanding capability.
As with Ensa, the public details stop short of a full moveset or class explainer. No official page currently outlines Shadow’s weapon list, passive traits, or progression path in detail. The reliable takeaway for now is narrower but still meaningful: Shadow is newly playable, tied to covert-operations identity, and explicitly associated with a Stalker machine in a way no other currently public Hunter description matches.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Episode Playtest: Ashwater Valley Story Mission Explained
The second playtest is the first one to feature a playable Episode, and Guerrilla says Episodes play a central role in the game’s narrative campaign by introducing new mysteries, characters, and mechanics. For the May build, the mission objective is to head into the wilds and save Ashwater Valley from a horde of machines. That gives the playtest a stronger story component than a simple systems demo, because the Episode is framed as part of the game’s actual campaign structure rather than as a detached side mission.
That narrative focus also fits the broader positioning of Horizon Hunters Gathering. Guerrilla’s announcement says the game is fully canon, and PlayStation’s main FAQ places it after the events of Horizon Forbidden West. Read together, those official statements make Ashwater Valley more than a throwaway test map: it is an early playable slice of a canon post-Forbidden-West story arc that Guerrilla intends to develop over time.
Machine Incursion Mode Explained: New Hard and Merciless Difficulty Settings
Machine Incursion remains one of the game’s two foundational modes, and official descriptions consistently present it as the more direct high-pressure combat test. Guerrilla says it is a high-intensity mission where waves of machines pour out from underground gateways under the leadership of a formidable boss. The second playtest raises the challenge further by adding two new difficulty settings, Hard and Merciless, which expand the mode beyond what February testers saw.
Guerrilla’s own example of the new ceiling is unusually blunt: the studio dares players to beat a Thunderjaw and a Ravager at the same time. Paired with the game’s buildcraft emphasis and replayable-hunts structure, that suggests Machine Incursion is designed to measure tactical coordination, mechanical skill, and damage-survival planning at the sharpest end of the playtest.
Cauldron Descent Mode Explained: Multi-Stage Trials, Teamwork, and Rewards
Cauldron Descent is the second core mode and the one official material presents as the more extended teamwork challenge. Guerrilla first described it in February as a longer, multi-stage trial with ever-changing rooms, brutal machine encounters, and hidden doors that can yield power and reward for prepared teams. In the May update, the studio says the second playtest includes even more challenging rooms to explore, which means this mode is being expanded rather than merely repeated.
The consistent theme across all official descriptions is coordination. PlayStation’s playtest page says teamwork is key in Cauldron Descent, and Guerrilla says coordination with other Hunters is essential for success. Between the evolving room structure, risk-reward hidden doors, and increased room difficulty, Cauldron Descent appears to be the clearest test bed for squad synergy and communication in the May build.
Breakers’ Bounty Region in Horizon Hunters Gathering: New Map and Biome Details
Breakers’ Bounty is the major new region being added for the second playtest. Guerrilla describes it as an area of dense jungles and ravaged ruins that borders a scorching desert and houses dangerous machines. The mission context is equally clear: players are traveling there to save the Oseram and stop the incursion. That biome spread matters because it suggests Breakers’ Bounty is built to show off environmental contrast, not just give players another combat arena with a new name.
The May test does not discard earlier geography to make room for it. PlayStation’s playtest page says players will still have access to Devil’s Thirst, which means Breakers’ Bounty broadens the available map pool rather than replacing prior content. For a live test, that is a meaningful sign that Guerrilla wants feedback on a wider range of spaces, traversal rhythms, and environmental combat setups.
The Gathering Hub Explained: Social Space, Loadouts, and Campsite Customization
The Gathering is repeatedly described in official material as the game’s central social space, but the public writeups now make clear that it is doing more than acting as a menu wrapper. Guerrilla’s February announcement calls it a vibrant social hub where players can connect, prepare, celebrate victories, customize Hunters, visit vendors, upgrade gear, and team up for the next adventure. The Steam page expands that image by describing it as a safe haven for all tribes where players can customize camp and appearance, upgrade gear, and forge new allyships between missions.
The May playtest update adds even more concrete utility. Guerrilla says The Gathering is where players can meet others, build loadouts, and customize camp, while the main PlayStation playtest page specifically highlights campsite customization as one of the social features available in the test. Taken together, the official sources position The Gathering as the game’s downtime layer: a place for social interaction, build preparation, gear progression, and cosmetic expression between hunts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Does signing up guarantee access to the closed playtest?
No. The official FAQ says registration does not guarantee an invite; it only places a player into the selection pool for the Beta Program test. - Who can participate in the May 22–25 Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest?
The playtest FAQ says participants must be 18 or older, have access to PS5 or PC through Steam, be located in an eligible region, and play in English. The broader Beta Program also requires an account in good standing and region eligibility. - Are signups global, or is the playtest region-locked?
Signups are open globally, but the second closed playtest itself will only be available in select regions that PlayStation says it will communicate closer to testing time. - When will invite emails be sent?
PlayStation says invites will roll out gradually over the week leading up to the playtest, which places the likely email window in the days before May 22, 2026. - How will selected players receive access on PS5 or PC?
Selected players will be contacted by email through the PlayStation Beta Program. On PC, the FAQ says some invitees may receive a Steam key and can redeem it through Steam’s product activation process. - Can invited players play with friends or solo?
Yes. The playtest FAQ says an invited player can bring up to two friends, and the broader game FAQ says solo play is supported with two Hunter NPCs. For this specific test, Hunter NPCs are available in Episode and Machine Incursion modes. - Is crossplay enabled in the playtest?
Yes. PlayStation’s FAQ explicitly confirms crossplay between PC and PS5, and the main game FAQ also confirms cross-progression when players use the same PlayStation account. - Can testers stream, record gameplay, or post screenshots?
No. The closed playtest is under a strict NDA. Players may not stream, record, screenshot, or publicly discuss the build during the test, and post-test impressions still cannot include captures or screenshots. - Will progress from the May playtest carry over?
No. PlayStation says playtest progress will not carry over to later tests or to launch. - Has Guerrilla announced the full game’s release date?
No. The official PlayStation FAQ says release information will be shared later, and the Steam page currently lists the game as “Coming soon.”
Conclusion
The official picture is now clear enough to act on. Horizon Hunters Gathering’s next closed playtest runs May 22–25, 2026, registration is handled through the Beta Program at PlayStation, and the test is confirmed for PS5 and PC on Steam with crossplay, five playable Hunters, a first playable Episode in Ashwater Valley, two expanded core modes, Breakers’ Bounty, and access to The Gathering hub. The practical caveats are just as important: invites are selective, the build is under a strict NDA, regions are limited, progress will not carry over, and the full release date remains unannounced.
Sources and Citations
- Official PlayStation Blog — Second Playtest Announcement (May 5, 2026)
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/05/horizon-hunters-gathering-second-playtest-new-hunters-episode-region-revealed/ - PlayStation Beta Program (registration, invites, eligibility, NDA)
https://www.playstation.com/beta-program-at-playstation/ - Official PlayStation Games Hub (game listing / platform info)
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ - PlayStation Beta Program official info page (same system used for invites)
https://www.playstation.com/beta-program-at-playstation/ - Official Steam Store (search listing page for availability / “Coming Soon”)
https://store.steampowered.com/ - Guerrilla Games official site (studio announcements / Horizon franchise updates)
https://www.guerrilla-games.com/
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