This week there was a new PlayStation Showcase, and many were surprised by the absence of The Last of Us' multiplayer project. Just days after the presentation, we now know why it was absent: Naughty Dog decided to delay it. Even worse, reliable sources reveal that the project is in jeopardy.
In a statement, Naughty Dog revealed that it had made the decision to delay the multiplayer of The Last of Us universe. The studio stated that it realized that "the best thing for the game" was to give it more time.
"While we are incredibly proud of the work that our team has done so far, we have realized that the best thing for the game is to give it more time," Naughty Dog explained in the project.
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) May 26, 2023
While Naughty Dog makes it seem like it's just a simple delay, the reality may be more complicated than it appears. This is according to information shared by four anonymous sources with Jason Schreier, one of the industry's most reliable journalists.
The Last of Us' multiplayer is reportedly in danger
In an article for Bloomberg, Schreier stated that his sources indicated that Naughty Dog and PlayStation decided to slow down the development of The Last of Us' multiplayer. This was to review its quality and long-term viability.
In fact, the team working on it has been reduced, although no layoffs have been reported since the creative people were simply assigned to other projects. Therefore, only a small group remains working on it while the direction it will take is analyzed. So while The Last of Us' multiplayer hasn't been canceled, this information reveals that it is at risk of suffering that fate.
According to the source, The Last of Us' multiplayer has been in development for at least four years. It originally started as a mode in The Last of Us Part II, but it became more and more ambitious until Naughty Dog decided to turn it into an independent project. The company's intention is to launch it as a game as a service that keeps players engaged over the long term.
In fact, there are sources that reveal that this delay is an indirect consequence of the acquisition of Bungie. Remember that PlayStation acquired Destiny's studio to help with the development of its games as a service. It is said that Bungie saw what Naughty Dog was developing and questioned its ability to keep players interested in the long term. This led Sony and Naughty Dog to review the project and its viability.
At the moment, Sony has not made any comments regarding Bloomberg's report. We will keep you informed if more information is revealed about it.
What do you think about this news? Do you believe The Last of Us' multiplayer will end up being canceled? Let us know in the comments.
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