The Last of Us had a fairly hit-or-miss 2023 with its live-action adaptation arguably preventing an underwhelming reception of the franchise. The premise of a multiplayer-exclusive Last of Us game was exciting for anyone who thoroughly enjoyed the original game’s Factions mode, though its development always seemed to be an uphill battle with each new update that was given to it this year. Thankfully, The Last of Us’ HBO show allowed the franchise to maintain its popularity.

Given the reaction to The Last of Us Part 1 and the remake’s PC port from the year before, this year’s announcement of a Part 2 remaster was smart to avoid the same fate by throwing in all the content it has included in it. That’s going to hopefully help kick-start another positive frame of mind for the franchise despite it not having any new installments announced, and The Last of Us’ second season beginning filming in 2024 might once again be the balm the franchise needs now that it’s 2024 will be similarly light on Last of Us gaming content.

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The Last of Us’ Franchise Will Be Just as Sparse in 2024 as It was in 2023

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Launches in January

The Last of Us Part 2’s remaster releases on January 19, 2024. The Last of Us franchise’s latest remaster may have been a simple current-gen upgrade with graphical enhancements like Naughty Dog has put out before if it wasn’t for a wonderful handful of new gameplay content at a respectable price point for anyone who already owns Part 2 on PS4:

  • Perhaps the highlight of the remaster, a roguelike mode called No Return will be available with unlockable characters and diverse modifiers in unique scenarios.
  • Three playable Lost Levels that allow players to experience unfinished, cut sequences from the game, including the Jackson dance, a boar hunt, and a trek through the sewers.
  • A guitar free play option.
  • Two editions: a standard edition, and a special WLF edition featuring a steelbook case, Society of Champions trading cards, a Washington Liberation Front patch, and a set of four enamel pins.
  • For PS4 Part 2 owners, the remaster is only $10. On its own, the remaster is $50.

The Last of Us Online is No Longer on the Table

It’s not clear when The Last of Us’ standalone multiplayer game would’ve been released, but right as 2023 is coming to a close Naughty Dog has confessed that it’s canceled the game outright to instead concentrate on single-player games. Titled The Last of Us Online internally, the game would have been tremendously ambitious and pooled enough development resources to reshape Naughty Dog’s output expectations entirely, and thus it was abandoned so that the studio could retain the identity it’s known for.

It’s unlikely that The Last of Us Online could’ve been a 2024 game after how tumultuous its development seemed while it was still trudging along anyway, but now any possibility of that occurring has been understandably dashed.

The Last of Us’ Next Games May Be a Long Ways Away

If a new single-player Last of Us game hasn’t already been announced, there’s an incredibly high likelihood that one won’t come out until at least 2025 and even that seems generously optimistic. Based on Naughty Dog’s admission of what resources would have needed to be pooled for the multiplayer game, it seems like the studio would only be diving fully into development on a new single-player game now that it no longer has any plans for live-service endeavors.

Of course, it’ll be interesting to see what it decides to make a priority since Naughty Dog has multiple single-player games in the pipeline. But without any of them currently announced or revealed it is anyone’s guess whether the next one will in fact be an entry in the Last of Us’ franchise or not, let alone when it could potentially come out.

The Last of Us’ HBO Show Has to Hold Down the Fort

Because The Last of Us’ well seems dry on the gaming front, filming and production details for The Last of Us’ HBO TV show may be all that’s left to keep the franchise thriving in 2024 after The Last of Us Part 2’s remaster releases in the year’s first few weeks. Of course, the official announcement of Abby’s casting will be a huge moment that could carry that excitement and controversy all throughout the year.

Then, when set photos inevitably find their way to the internet they will rehash all the same anticipation that was generated during the filming of the first Last of Us game’s adaptation. Plus, such details could hint as to how HBO is attempting to approach an adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 in its second season.