Summary
- Naughty Dog has confirmed that The Last of Us Online has been permanently canceled, disappointing fans who were eager for a multiplayer expansion to the franchise.
- The decision to cancel The Last of Us Online was made in order to allow the studio to focus on developing new single-player experiences and avoid diverting resources to post-launch content for an online game.
- While some fans are disappointed by the cancelation, others are optimistic about Naughty Dog's focus on narrative games and the potential for new IPs or the expansion of beloved franchises in the future.
Much to the disappointment of many fans, Naughty Dog has announced that The Last of Us Online has terminated development. The highly anticipated multiplayer game was due to expand the story of The Last of Us franchise, though the title has now been abandoned, leaving fans wondering about the future of the series.
One of the most popular video games of all time, The Last of Us resonated with fans for its intense gameplay, emotional storytelling, and beloved characters. Fans have enjoyed the first two installments in the franchise, The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part 2, and many were excited to see the in-game world expand into the multiplayer genre. Unfortunately for players who had hoped to play The Last of Us Online, the project has come to a halt.
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In an announcement on the official Naughty Dog site, the studio has revealed that development on The Last of Us Online has been permanently ended. The Last of Us Online was originally being developed at the same time as The Last of Us Part 2. While Naughty Dog and its team were looking forward to bringing a fresh multiplayer experience to the fan base, The Last of Us Online has been canceled in order to allow the studio to pursue other projects. As explained in the announcement post, Naughty Dog had to make the difficult decision between finishing The Last of Us Online and providing extended online support and content or instead focusing on the development of new single-player experiences. After careful consideration, the studio opted for the latter option.
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.
Fans Respond to The Last of Us Online Cancelation
With rumors of The Last of Us Part 3 continuing to swirl, the cancelation of The Last of Us Online has left the fan base with mixed feelings. Many were saddened, as the game would have satiated the multiplayer craving left behind by The Last of Us Factions. Some players remain optimistic, with some noting the mention of the studio focusing on single-player games. Multiple comments pointed out that Naughty Dog focusing on narrative games could potentially provide brand-new IPs to experience. However, some worry that the single-player titles Naughty Dog is working on may be remakes and remasters, rather than fresh titles. Whether Naughty Dog is developing new stories or expanding beloved franchises remains to be seen, but fans can be certain that more single-player releases are on the way.
In the midst of The Day Before controversy, fans are once again disappointed at the loss of an online multiplayer zombie experience. While The Last of Us Online never made it to launch, players are mourning the canceled game and the potential it held. With the title now laid to rest, Naughty Dog is fully turning its focus to the single-player gaming that made the studio popular.
The Last of Us
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 94 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- June 14, 2013
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary (overall), Havok (physics)
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Expansions
- The Last of Us: Left Behind
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey. Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
