When NCSoft announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, eyebrows were already raised over its PC and mobile-only release strategy, conspicuously skipping PlayStation consoles. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real conversation starter? The studio isn’t just dipping its toes into artificial intelligence—they’re diving in headfirst.
In a candid interview with RuliWeb, the development team pulled back the curtain on something most studios dance around: their “intensive” use of AI technology throughout the game’s creation. And we’re not talking about a little algorithmic help here and there. This is full-spectrum AI integration, touching everything from writing code to crafting art assets.
AI as the new studio assistant
Think of it as having an incredibly versatile intern who never sleeps and works across every department. The technology is being deployed as an assistance tool throughout the production pipeline, streamlining workflows that traditionally ate up countless developer hours. But perhaps most intriguingly, AI is also being leveraged for game balance—specifically, helping determine the optimal player count for various gameplay scenarios. Because nothing kills an MMO faster than poorly balanced encounters, right?
What’s particularly noteworthy is the team’s unapologetic enthusiasm about the whole thing. They’re not treating AI as a dirty little secret or a cost-cutting measure to be downplayed. Instead, Horizon Steel Frontiers developers openly stated they want to use AI tools “as much as possible.” NCSoft is clearly betting big on this approach, with plans to significantly ramp up AI implementation across future projects—especially following the launch of Aion 2.
What we’re actually getting
Beyond the development drama, Horizon Steel Frontiers itself sounds genuinely compelling. The MMO drops players into the Deadlands, a fresh region within the Horizon universe that draws inspiration from the rugged landscapes of Arizona and Mexico. The core gameplay loop centers on cooperative hunts against massive mechanical beasts—think Monster Hunter meets Horizon’s signature robot dinosaurs.
The game is being built on Unreal Engine 5, which should deliver some stunning visuals for those desert vistas and towering metal creatures. Whether the AI-assisted development translates into a better player experience remains to be seen, but NCSoft is certainly making a statement about where they see the industry heading.