Game developer Naughty Dog has announced they are no longer moving forward with The Last Of Us multiplayer game and that it has been canceled.
The developer posted an update on its website on Thursday with the news that instead of focusing on the multiplayer game they will be focused on single-player narrative games.
“We realize many of you have been anticipating news around the project that we’ve been calling The Last of Us Online. There’s no easy way to say this: We’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to stop development on that game,” states the announcement.
Naughty Dog continues, “We know this news will be tough for many, especially our dedicated The Last of Us Factions community, who have been following our multiplayer ambitions ardently. We’re equally crushed at the studio as we were looking forward to putting it in your hands. We wanted to share with you some background of how we came to this decision.
“The multiplayer team has been in pre-production with this game since we were working on The Last of Us Part II – crafting an experience we felt was unique and had tremendous potential,” says the developer. “As the multiplayer team iterated on their concept for The Last of Us Online during this time, their vision crystalized, the gameplay got more refined and satisfying, and we were enthusiastic about the direction in which we were headed.”
Naughty Dog adds, “In ramping up to full production, the massive scope of our ambition became clear. To release and support The Last of Us Online we’d have to put all our studio resources behind supporting post launch content for years to come, severely impacting development on future single-player games. So, we had two paths in front of us: become a solely live service games studio or continue to focus on single-player narrative games that have defined Naughty Dog’s heritage.”
Naughty Dog continues, “We are immensely proud of everyone at the studio that touched this project. The learnings and investments in technology from this game will carry into how we develop our projects and will be invaluable in the direction we are headed as a studio. We have more than one ambitious, brand new single player game that we’re working on here at Naughty Dog, and we cannot wait to share more about what comes next when we’re ready.
“Until then, we’re incredibly thankful to our community for your support throughout the years,” Naughty Dog said.
The game is also the inspiration for the popular TV series on HBO starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Season 2 is currently in development.
What is The Last of Us?
The Last of Us is a critically acclaimed series of action-adventure games developed by Naughty Dog, known for its compelling narrative and intense gameplay. The series primarily follows the story of Joel and Ellie in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection that turns humans into aggressive creatures.
The first game, The Last of Us, released in 2013 for PlayStation 3, follows Joel, a smuggler, and Ellie, a young girl immune to the infection, as they journey across the United States. Their story is an emotional and intense tale of survival, exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
The Last of Us Part II, released in 2020 for PlayStation 4, continues the story, this time focusing on Ellie as the main protagonist. The game delves deeper into the consequences of actions, revenge, and the moral complexities of the characters’ choices in a world torn apart by violence and decay.
