Horizon Hunters Gathering wasn’t exactly what we were expecting when we first heard about Guerilla Games tackling an online multiplayer Horizon game for Sony, but the PS5 and PC “tactical co-op” title certainly looks interesting to enough to warrant a closer look. Now, it appears the first closed beta test is about to happen, and its timing is a bit funny.

Via Push Square and social media posts, we’ve learned the first Horizon Hunters Gathering test will be happening during certain time slots this weekend. More specifically, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm CET in Europe, and 4:00pm to 7:00pm PST in North America; it’ll “get underway from 27th February and run until 1st March.” At the time of writing, it seems other regions are not part of this test.

To access, you’ll need to both be part of the PlayStation Beta Program and get lucky. The good news is the closed test seems substantial, as it’ll include access to three different characters: Axle, Rem, and Sun. Two modes, Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent, come with this test, which will happen exclusively “on the previously announced Colorado Springs map.” Moreover, the Gathering social space and a customisable camp site will also be available, which suggests development on the game is further along than many thought.

At the same time, Sony and Bungie will be hosting Marathon’s “server slam” weekend to test the game’s online infrastructure ahead of its launch on 5th March. Unlike the closed Horizon Hunters Gathering test, Marathon’s pre-release weekend is free for everyone and open, so we’re gonna assume Horizon’s little event is really limited when it comes to player numbers, as overlapping them (and the ensuing conversations) seems a bit silly.