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The Last of Us has been around for ten years, with its latest original entry being released in 2020. Despite its appeal and massive fandom, the IP has struggled with its multiplayer project.
Reports claimed the game was delayed after Bungie recommended a new direction for the project, but the latest information suggests it has been canceled altogether. Nonetheless, a LinkedIn profile provides a small glimpse at Naughty Dog’s ambitions for the game.
According to the profile, The Last of Us Multiplayer was aiming for 40-player lobbies.
Why it matters: This project was expected to be one of PlayStation’s biggest releases in the live service genre. However, its closure highlights the grim reality and risks of this industry.
The LinkedIn profile of Ian Blake, a former Naughty Dog employee, highlights his work at the studio.
Apart from The Last of Us Part 1, the developer worked on the studio’s multiplayer project, where he helped in:
“Designing and optimizing for up to 40 clients.”
This detail suggests Naughty Dog wanted to expand the multiplayer offering to a bigger scale.
The Last of Us Factions, the first game’s multiplayer mode, offered lobbies of around eight players. This led to focused and intense combat, but it appears the studio took a cue from the battle royale genre for the recent project.
Since the release of the first game, large-scale combat in multiplayer games has exploded in popularity, with games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone allowing hundreds of players to compete in a single match.
Therefore, Naughty Dog may have been hoping to bring a similar formula to the world of The Last of Us. Unfortunately, recent reports suggest that this ambition may never come to fruition.
While we believe there is little hope for The Last of Us Multiplayer, Naughty Dog has not officially made any announcements yet. Therefore, all hope is not lost.
However, the studio may not be able to recover from years of lost progress since the gaming industry is rapidly evolving, and trends are quick to become outdated if studios are unable to keep up.
Apart from this multiplayer project, the studio has been working on a remaster for The Last of Us Part 2.
Naughty Dog may have planned to release its standalone multiplayer offering alongside the remaster for additional excitement, but it appears the studio has already moved on from its live service endeavors.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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