Naughty Dog has ceased development on The Last of Us Online, its ambitious venture into creating an online version of the popular franchise. The studio cites the need to allocate all resources to post-launch content for an extended period, a strategy that would have adversely affected its capacity to craft future single-player games.
In a statement, Naughty Dog expressed awareness that fans of The Last of Us Factions multiplayer community would likely be disappointed by the decision. The studio sought to offer context for why it opted to discontinue development on the game.
As we progressed toward full production, the extensive scope of our ambition came into focus. Releasing and sustaining The Last of Us Online would have required dedicating all our studio resources to supporting post-launch content for years to come, significantly impacting the development of future single-player games. Faced with this choice, we had two paths: transform into a solely live-service games studio or continue our focus on single-player narrative games that define Naughty Dog’s legacy.
Navigating the Struggles of The Last of Us Online
In May, Naughty Dog initiated a reduction in the development efforts for The Last of Us Online following an internal review by Bungie. The subsequent October saw the studio confronting layoffs, leading to the reported suspension of the multiplayer project.
Recently, Naughty Dog officially declared the cessation of The Last of Us Online, reaffirming its commitment to the single-player path that has solidified its standing as a prominent entity within PlayStation’s first-party studios.
The forthcoming release from Naughty Dog is The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, slated to debut on January 19, 2024, for PlayStation 5.
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