- The Last of Us multiplayer game is the main cause behind Naughty Dog’s barren output this generation.
- According to an insider, most of the studio was developing the multiplayer title.
- Intergalactic had a small team working on it, and developers only shifted to the IP once the live-service game was canned.
Sony’s widely panned live-service strategy added another chapter to its notorious history yesterday, with an insider announcing that the Horizon multiplayer title is set to be entirely reworked following negative playtest scores. Unsurprisingly, fans have once again criticised Sony leadership for this failed pivot and its wide-ranging consequences.
Of the 12 live-service titles the gaming giant was set to launch this generation, many have been canned or flat-out failed. Arguably, one of the most prominent cancellations was Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us multiplayer game, and according to an insider, its effects are still ringing through the studio.
Why it matters: Arguably, Sony’s live-service push this generation is one of the worst business decisions in gaming, and if Xbox were still a competitive force, PlayStation would have suffered even more.
According to insider Jason Schreier, a major reason behind Intergalactic’s delay and the general lack of output from Naughty Dog this generation is the canned Last of Us live-service title. Contrary to popular belief, the multiplayer game wasn’t just a side project at the studio, as most of the developers were working on it.
Intergalactic did not have the majority of staff until after Last of Us Online was cancelled……which is why we haven’t seen a brand new game from them since 2020.
Schreier revealed that Intergalactic had a small section of Naughty Dog developing it and only got support from the majority of the staff once The Last of Us live-service title halted production.
Hence, most of the studio was either working on The Last of Us remakes or the multiplayer game, which is why Naughty Dog hasn’t put out a new IP in the 2020’s and also pushed Intergalactic to 2027.
Considering how the live-service title had been in development for 7 years and was 80% finished, this timeline does make a lot of sense. With Intergalactic skipping a 2026 launch, Naughty Dog has now gone six years without a new game, and the only party one can blame is Sony’s leadership.
Do you think the live-service push helped PlayStation? Should the company just go back to its single-player roots and leave the production of live-service games to third-party studios? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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