Summary
The Last of Us 3may seem like a long way off for many fans of the franchise, with a lot of attention currently being placed on an upcoming remaster, or its massively successful HBO TV show. In recent times, fans have also been waiting for news regarding an anticipated multiplayer spin-off for the franchise, although a recent update from Naughty Dog spells bad news for this upcoming project.
This update sadly stated thatThe Last of Us' untitled multiplayer release is being canceled, with Naughty Dog not wanting to commit so much of its resources to a live-service release that would require years of continuous support. While this is of course disappointing for fans who were looking forward to such an ambitious twist on the usualTLoUformula, this approach from Naughty Dog could be a huge hint towards the future ofThe Last of Us 3.
While many fans are looking forward toThe Last of Us 3, the game has not been officially confirmed by Naughty Dog as things stand.
The Last of Us 3 is Much More Likely After the IP’s Multiplayer Cancelation
A purelymultiplayer spin-off forThe Last of Uswas first announced in 2018, originally being intended as a bold expansion toThe Last of Us Part 2. The project was then seen as large enough to warrant its own standalone release with an announcement in 2022, with rumors and minor updates coming here and there ever since.
Thelack of a multiplayer mode inThe Last of Us Part 2was a real sore point for many fans, especially given how popular the multiplayer mode of the first game was. While the criticism of this lack of multiplayer in the sequel was temporarily quelled by the promise of a standalone online title, these hopes have now been completely dashed following the recent Naughty Dog announcement.
Rumors pointed towards the canceled project being calledThe Last of Us: Factions, and it would have presumably seen players engage in PvPvE gameplay with story elements set in California. It is highly likely that a fair amount of assets for this online project have already been made, with a multiplayer experience forThe Last of Us Part 2clearly having been in Naughty Dog’s plans for some time.
Naughty Dog’s Freed-Up Resources Could Be the Start of The Last of Us 3’s Development
Naughty Dog’s reasoning behind the cancelation of preserving resources for the future could easily point towardsexpansive plans forThe Last of Us Part 3, and the company will ensure that the time spent on the development of the multiplayer will not go to waste. Following the release ofThe Last of Us Part 2 Remasteredon January 19, fans can expect Naughty Dog to move on to more large-scale mainline releases for its major franchises.
WhileThe Last of Us 3will not be facing release for some time if it is in fact in the cards, Naughty Dog’s commitment to freeing up its resources for the near future is a great sign. Adedicated multiplayer game within theLast of Usuniversewould have been a fantastic experience, but there is a clear silver lining to its cancelation that should give fans some solace.
The Last of Us
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.
