The franchise will forever be known as a solo-player series. And rightfully so, as the initial game established a groundbreaking level of storytelling in video games. As we discussed in our podcast review, this remarkable narrative was flawlessly adapted into a new format for the HBO show.

Despite its simplicity and limited features, the first game included a multiplayer mode named Factions. Surprisingly, Factions exceeded expectations and managed to develop a dedicated fan base within the shooter community, despite only offering three modes.

The announcement that The Last of Us Part 2 would not include any multiplayer mode left dedicated fans heartbroken. Initially, Naughty Dog had intended to include Factions in TLoU 2, but the complex task of developing it alongside the ambitious story mode proved to be too challenging for the team.

We were initially informed that the multiplayer mode would be released as a separate game in the future, which was later confirmed by Neil Druckmann in June 2022. However, there are now uncertainties regarding whether we will actually receive this standalone version of Factions 2.

• If you are a fan of The Last of Us writing, I highly recommend treating yourself to The Last of Us graphic novel.

Last of Us Multiplayer Delayed: Naughty Dog Make Announcement Following Report

Jason Schreier, a highly regarded video game journalist, recently published a highly critical report regarding the multiplayer Last of Us project. Based on his sources, Naughty Dog’s work was reviewed by Bungie, who expressed strong dissatisfaction with it. Consequently, several developers were reassigned to different projects, and the entire undertaking was significantly reduced in scope.

Within 24 hours of Schreier’s report being published, Naughty Dog issued an official statement seemingly in acknowledgment. They confess that the game requires more time for development.

We take immense pride in the progress achieved by our studio so far. However, as we proceed with development, we have come to the realization that the game would benefit from additional time. Our dedicated team will continue to work diligently on this project, along with our other ongoing game developments, including an exciting new single-player experience. We eagerly anticipate sharing more details with you in the near future.

The project has not been cancelled, but it has experienced a significant delay. Frankly, it wouldn’t be surprising if it gets cancelled in the near future, but for the time being, it remains secure.

Despite the lack of detailed information, Naughty Dog’s mention of a “brand new single-player experience” offers a glimmer of hope. Although we are uncertain about its specifics, any new content is certainly better than none at all.

We should hope that the new single-player game undergoes thorough QA testing.