The Last of Us’ standalone multiplayer game has a lot of design choices it must make. Besides its setting, fans still do not know what the multiplayer’s gameplay loop will be, and how much a narrative will impact it post-launch. Other considerations that need to be made include what weapons players will have available to them, which is an important consideration since these are the weapons players will be wielding for a presumably long while if The Last of Us’ multiplayer continues to launch content after its initial release.
Patches and expansions can add weapons at a later date, but it is important to determine which weapons will be available at launch. If Naughty Dog looks back at its two The Last of Us games as inspiration, then there are some neat options it could select. Considering how many firearms and other armaments there are in only two games, it is plausible that every weapon from The Last of Us could be featured in the multiplayer. Some stand out more than others, however, and those particular weapons should be added from The Last of Us Part 1 and The Last of Us Part 2.
Craftable Melee Weapons and Breakable Shivs
Before getting into all the potential firearms that The Last of Us’ multiplayer game could include, it is important to consider melee instruments. There is only speculation right now as to what the multiplayer’s day-to-day gameplay will entail, but if it simulates The Last of Us’ hunter-gatherer experience in a hostile, suburban locale, then there should be a lot of looting available.
In doing so, players will hopefully be able to discover melee items strewn about, such as a 2x4, baseball bat, emergency axe, machete, or hatchet. Likewise, players should be able to get single-use shivs that can help them defend against attacks or stealthily assassinate an unsuspecting enemy player. Once a melee weapon is found, it should be used the same way as in either of The Last of Us’ single-player installments, where players can fasten blades to it for lethal damage and more durability.
This would lend a lot of diversity to how players engage in combat, giving them the chance to close the distance and strike while an enemy is stuck manually reloading a shotgun. Of course, it would be equally risky to lunge at a player with a hammer, for instance, if they can dash backward and fire a point-blank shot with a revolver.
Craftable Silencers for Handguns
The Last of Us implements looting into its ordinary gameplay with great immersion, where players are encouraged to search the cabinets and drawers of derelict homes in order to scrounge together any resources available. In finding random assortments of materials used to craft items, players should also be able to find plastic bottles that they can strap to the end of their handguns as a silencer.
Pistol suppressors were introduced in The Last of Us 2, debuting with considerable effects on stealth encounters. These silencers only last for a few shots before they break, but could be invaluable in situations where one player finds themselves cornered or needing to flee as other players enter the area and are unaware of their presence.
There are many methods players could indulge in to have a stealth-oriented approach in The Last of Us’ multiplayer game, but having craftable silencers would immerse players further and be a wonderful incentive to loot as much as possible in every area they explore. This could make the decision to stay and loot a sublet basement or apartment flat rewarding, even if players notice spores or hear hostile players approaching.
Long Guns from The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2
Long guns in The Last of Us that should be considered are the bow, bolt-action rifle, silenced SMG, semi-auto rifle, and any kind of shotgun imaginable, be it a pump-action, break-action, or short-barrel. Most of these guns are great in The Last of Us when players have entered irreversibly into combat and need to rely on damage output. The bolt-action rifle, for example, is a popular choice in The Last of Us once upgraded to have piercing damage, making short work of anyone wearing riot gear or armor.
The bow is much more strategic in its approach, giving players the ability to silently assassinate enemies and even retrieve arrows on occasion, though their skill would need to be unmatched if they plan to take a bow into a gunfight. It is unknown if Naughty Dog has plans to blend The Last of Us’ multiplayer into a PvPvE experience, but some players would likely find joy in being able to wield a flamethrower to torch runner hordes or other players that come into their midst.
Otherwise, any of the aforementioned firearms would be an excellent choice in an exchange of gunfire from behind waist-high cover. If The Last of Us’ improved workbench returns, it would be excellent to see similar upgrades to familiar long guns, as well as with short guns that the multiplayer game should also add.
Short Guns from The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2
Short guns in The Last of Us that should be considered are the revolver, 9mm pistol, Shorty, and El Diablo. These firearms are all found in The Last of Us Part 1, rounding out Joel and Ellie’s backpack and waistband armory with diverse options. Handguns would be much easier to conceal, and would most likely have the most spare ammunition to find lying around. Short guns could also potentially be cheaper if all firearms are purchased at an arms merchant in The Last of Us’ multiplayer game, though at least one handgun will probably become a standard gun of choice when players have exhausted their ammunition for guns that are more powerful.
The 9mm could be exceptionally popular, for example, if the plastic bottle silencers could be crafted and attached to it. Nearly any firearm, melee weapon, or other item in The Last of Us’ franchise could be a remarkable resource in the multiplayer title, and it is possible that the upcoming game may also feature a slew of weapons that are new to the series as well.
A The Last of Us multiplayer game is in development.