The Last of Us Online
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Last of Us Online across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Last Of Us 2 Multiplayer Mod Canceled “On Behalf Of Sony,” Dev Says
A lead modder, @Speclizer_, announced that their multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part II will not be released due to a request from Sony Interactive Entertainment. The modder expressed sadness but hopes to create original projects in the future. Naughty Dog had previously canceled its own ambitious multiplayer project, The Last of Us Online.
Sony continues to anger fans as The Last Of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod axed
Sony Interactive Entertainment has reportedly forced the cancellation of a fan-made multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part II on PC. The mod's creator, Speclizer, announced the termination following a request from Sony, drawing criticism from fans who view it as another 'terrible decision' by the company. This action comes after Sony also cancelled its own live service title, The Last of Us Online, in 2023.
A multiplayer mod for The Last of Us 2 was reportedly cancelled "at Sony's request"
A multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part 2 on PC has been cancelled after Sony Interactive Entertainment sent a request to the developers to cease work on the project. The modder, Speclizer, expressed sadness over the cancellation, which may have been due to a planned paid component via Patreon. This news follows the earlier cancellation of the official The Last of Us Online.
Work on now-canceled The Last of Us Online caused the huge gap in Naughty Dog’s release cycle
Naughty Dog has canceled its ambitious online multiplayer game set in The Last of Us universe due to its massive scope, which diverted resources from other projects. This decision has contributed to a significant gap between the studio's major releases and reflects Sony's struggles with its push into live service games.
Naughty Dog Never Treated The Last of Us Online as Filler — and Intergalactic’s Team Mostly Formed After the Cancellation
Naughty Dog's canceled multiplayer game, The Last of Us Online, was treated as a tentpole release rather than a filler project, according to Jason Schreier. Most of the team now working on the unannounced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet only joined after The Last of Us Online was scrapped, having spent seven years in development before its cancellation at approximately 80% completion due to the challenges of live service support.
The Last of Us Online Was Not a 'Side Project,' Majority of Intergalactic's Team Came Over After Multiplayer Game Was Scrapped
Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Online was a significant undertaking and a primary reason for the studio's lack of new game releases since 2020. The multiplayer game's cancellation impacted the development of other projects.
Horizon Multiplayer Game Being Rebooted To Remove Live-Service, Next Mainline Horizon Game “Years Away,” Report Says
Guerrilla is reportedly rebooting its live-service multiplayer game, Horizon Hunters Gathering, to remove live-service elements and focus on a more traditional cooperative experience with a story mode. The studio has until December to impress executives with the reboot's progress. Additionally, the next mainline single-player Horizon game is said to be years away from release.
PlayStation reportedly reworking live service Horizon Hunters Gathering into a smaller, more traditional co-op game…
PlayStation is reportedly reworking the live service game Horizon Hunters Gathering into a smaller, more traditional co-op experience with a story mode due to negative feedback from playtests. Developer Guerrilla Games has until the end of December to impress higher-ups with the changes, with many developers potentially being reassigned to other projects.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-Service
Despite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
The Last of Us Online Director Says Former Colleagues Still Call it “The Best Multiplayer Game”
Former director Vinit Agarwal revealed that colleagues still consider the cancelled The Last of Us Online to be the best multiplayer game they've played. Naughty Dog cancelled the project in December 2023 due to its massive scope and the need to prioritize single-player narrative games. Agarwal, who worked on the title for seven years, expressed devastation but understanding for the decision.
Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
The former director of the cancelled The Last of Us Online has stated it was the best multiplayer game the team had ever created. The article also briefly touches upon the historical significance of Tennis for Two as an early video game.
Director of The Last of Us Online Says Former Colleagues Still Tell Him How Amazing It Was Going to Be
The director of the canceled multiplayer game The Last of Us Online stated that former colleagues continue to tell him it was shaping up to be the best multiplayer game they had ever played. This indicates significant potential that was lost with the project's cancellation.
Cancelled The Last of Us Online director says it was 'the best multiplayer game' the team had ever played
Former game director Vinit Agarwal described the cancelled multiplayer game The Last of Us Online as 'the best multiplayer game [the team] ever played.' Agarwal revealed the project was approximately 80 percent complete before its cancellation, which was reportedly made to prioritize another game directed by Neil Druckmann.
Troy Baker Believes We Haven't Seen The Last of Joel
Voice actor Troy Baker believes the character Joel from The Last of Us will appear in future projects across various media. Meanwhile, Vinit Agarwal, director of the canceled multiplayer game The Last of Us Online, revealed it was scrapped just 24 hours before its announcement despite being 80% complete. Journalist Jason Schreier also reported that the cancellation of the online title led to layoffs at Sony.
Games Inbox: Will there ever be a Last Of Us Part 3?
Readers discuss the inevitability of The Last of Us Part 3, considering the franchise's brand power and Sony's likely desire for more sequels. Other topics include hopes for a Zelda movie, the appeal of quirky Japanese game company decisions, and debates on optimal performance modes for current-generation consoles.
Former Xbox Veteran Says Canceling The Last of Us Online Was the Right Call, Criticizes Naughty Dog and Sony for Green-lighting It in the First Place
A former Xbox veteran believes Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog made the correct decision to cancel The Last of Us Online. The veteran criticized the companies for green-lighting the project in the first place, suggesting it was a flawed concept from the start.
The Last of Us Online’s Cancellation Was a Good Decision, Says Microsoft Game Studios Co-Founder
Microsoft Game Studios co-founder Laura Fryer stated that the cancellation of The Last of Us Online was a positive decision, preventing Naughty Dog from falling into the sunk cost fallacy. She criticized the project's handling and lack of planning, emphasizing that supporting a live service game would have jeopardized the studio's focus on single-player narrative titles.
Former Xbox exec thinks Naughty Dog's decision to cancel the 80% completed The Last of Us Online 'was the right call', but it shouldn't have greenlit it in the first place — 'The ambition was there, but the realistic upfront planning wasn't', she says
Former Microsoft executive Laura Fryer believes Naughty Dog made the correct decision to cancel The Last of Us Online, even though it was nearly 80% complete. She argues the real mistake was greenlighting the project without adequate upfront planning for a live service model, which would have strained the studio's resources and potentially compromised its focus on single-player narrative games.
You Might Not Want to Know How Much It Reportedly Cost Bungie to Make Marathon
A new report suggests that Bungie's upcoming game Marathon has a development budget exceeding $200 million, potentially reaching over $250 million before ongoing costs. This figure is comparable to or even surpasses the reported budget for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Despite financial concerns and past project cancellations following Sony's acquisition of Bungie, the studio is reportedly focused on creating new content for Marathon, which has received positive initial feedback.
Uncharted Dev Hints At A Potential New Title
Speculation about a new Uncharted title is mounting following a social media post by Uncharted: The Lost Legacy director Shaun Escayg. Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann also hinted at a new project, potentially not related to The Last of Us. Separately, Vinit Agarwal revealed that the 80% complete multiplayer game The Last of Us Online was canceled just before its public announcement.
