While many fans were hopeful that Naughty Dog would provide an update on its The Last of Us multiplayer game at the recent PlayStation Showcase, it unfortunately did not make an appearance. To make matters worse, the developer released a statement notifying fans that The Last of Us multiplayer title has been internally delayed and that they would need more time before it's ready to be revealed. As disappointing as this is to hear, the writing has been on the wall for this game for some time, and its delay may ultimately save the game from an unfortunate fate.
Naughty Dog first teased the existence of a Last of Us multiplayer spin-off game back in Summer 2022, but little information has been shared since and fans were initially hopeful when Co-President of Naughty Dog Neil Druckmann stated in early 2023 that they would be sharing more information about the game later this year. However, this recent announcement of a delay has put a damper on some of the hype for the franchise following The Last of Us' successful HBO series. Fans shouldn't be too disheartened as the studio is known for creating quality experiences and giving them the time necessary to create the optimal experience is the best path forward.
The Last of Us Multiplayer's Delay is Not Surprising Given the Circumstances
With The Last of Us Part 2 being released in 2020, one would expect a studio of the size and renown of Naughty Dog to have something to show from its next major title three years later. However, the release of The Last of Us Part 2 was followed by allegations that developers were being forced to crunch to meet deadlines for the game, which didn't sit right with many fans. In the time since, Naughty Dog has comitted to changing its culture surrounding crunch for development on its games, meaning that future projects from the developer will likely take more time as a result.
Adding on to this change in attitude towards crunch culture are the rumors that some developers working on The Last of Us multiplayer game have been reassigned to other projects. Cutting down the number of developers on the project doesn't necessarily spell doom for the game, but it does make it more likely that the game will face a longer development cycle. Other rumors suggest that Naughty Dog has delayed the game as it works to reassess the project's long term viability, which could imply that the studio was unhappy with the current direction of the game and is overhauling certain aspects of it to fit its standards.
Another element to consider that comes along with the announcement of the game's delay is the confirmation that Naughty Dog is also working on a new single-player experience as well. With this project likely being The Last of Us Part 3, it's understandable why developers could be shifted away from a spin-off title to focus more resources on the next mainline entry in the series. Given Naughty Dog's identity as a developer of excellent single-player games, it's no surprise that the studio would want the majority of its talent working on the type of game that the studio excels at.
While there still is a possibility that The Last of Us multiplayer title could receive more positive news by the end of the year, fans shouldn't hold their breath. Naughty Dog has shown that it's more than capable of crafting envelope-pushing gaming experiences, and The Last of Us is a series that deserves its due diligence, even for a spin-off title. As the gaming industry continues to battle with crunch culture, the gaming community should be more supportive of studios who work to reduce stress on developers and be more understanding when it results in these types of delays.
The Last of Us multiplayer game is currently in development.
