The Last of Us multiplayer title, previously rumored to have been cancelled, seems to still be in development. This revelation comes from one of the game’s developers. Vinit Agarwal, a game director at Naughty Dog, recently tweeted a confirmation.
While posting about his achievement of clearing all the Special World courses in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Agarwal let his fans know that he’s “still working on that game”.
Vinit has been credited as the co-director for the Naughty Dog’s first ever online multiplayer game, set in the universe of The Last of Us. Fans have immediately made the connection, and many have expressed their happiness considering that the TLOU multiplayer project was on ice.
The Last of Us Multiplayer May Be Postponed But Not Canceled
Many insiders over the past year have been claiming that Naughty Dog is cancelling the project. Earlier this year, Jason Schreier from Bloomberg had claimed in a report that Sony has slowed down development of the title. He stated that the creators and Sony were in the process of reassessing the game’s ‘quality and long-term viability’. Many took this as Sony’s vote of no confidence about the title and soon the internet started flooding with speculations and claims that Sony is dumping the game.
After a while, Naughty Dog decided to clear the air, stating that they have “realized what is best for the game is to give it more time”. While it doesn’t mean they have scrapped the title completely, many assumed that Naughty Dog, along with Sony, are trying to determine the best approach to take. After all, The Last of Us is one of the best video gaming franchises ever made and expectations are certainly high.
Vinit’s tweet comes as a relief to the game’s massive fan base. While he doesn’t disclose any other information regarding The Last of Us multiplayer’s release window or any specific details, he simply shuts down the rumors of cancelation.
At least the fans can rest easy knowing that the project isn’t completely scrapped. Judging by Agarwal’s tweet, it’s quite possible that many will keep asking him about the project and information about its current status.
Naughty Dog has had a fair share of setbacks this year. Despite what can only be described as a great year for the gaming industry, massive layoffs have been reported in many major game studios. Naughty Dog was one of them, having laid off 25 developers in October 2023. This could also be a major factor that has slowed down the development of The Last of Us multiplayer title.
Source – Vinit Agarwal (via X)
