WhenThe Last of Uslaunched on PS3 in 2013, it would have been hard to predict what a runaway hit it would be. On the surface, it is nothing but yet anotherzombie survival horror game, and there are countless numbers of those available. However, as many gamers realized upon playing it,The Last of Uspresents much more than just brain-munching monsters, and instead, it unfurls a gut-wrenching story about the power of love and the drastic decisions it can push one towards in moments of desperation. The game was a commercial and critical success, leading to its sequel,The Last of Us 2, being released in 2020.
Originally, gamers expectedThe Last of Us 2to release with a multiplayer counterpart. However, as Naughty Dog explained, the scope of the game grew to such a degree that it decided to release the multiplayer element as a full game at a later stage. It is almost two years later, and the multiplayer game has yet to be seen. While details on the upcoming game are still scarce, signs suggest that it may be a live-service title.
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The Last of Us Is a Long-Term Project
It would have been very easy for Naughty Dog to concludeThe Last of Uswith the first game, and its ambiguous ending would have allowed for it to be discussed for decades to come. However, the world crafted was intriguing enough for the developer to decide it was worth expandingJoel and Ellie’s story and revealing more about how the disastrous cordyceps pandemic has affected the rest of America. InThe Last of Us 2, Ellie travels to Seattle to seek revenge after suffering a terrible injustice. Along the way, she meets new factions, makes new enemies, and discovers new types of Infected.
The Last of Us 2does not mark the end of the franchise, however, and there are still steady plans to expand its reach. Currently, a television adaptation ofThe Last of Usis in production, and filming is taking place in Canada. Performers involved with the project includeGame of Thrones' Bella Ramsey who will play Ellie andThe Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal who will play Joel. Sony and Naughty Dog are not taking a hands-off approach to the television series, and they will be heavily involved, with Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann serving as one of the show’s writers.
The investmentNaughty Dogand Sony are making inThe Last of Usfranchise suggests that they are in it for the long haul, and they expect the IP to be profitable well into the future. This would create a fertile environment for a live-serviceThe Last of Usmultiplayer game to maintain relevance in the long-term and ensure that gamers remain interested in it for years to come.
PlayStation Has been Investing in Live-Services
One of the most recent trends in the gaming industry is the increasing number of studio acquisitions being made by the gaming giants. Microsoft has not been afraid to throw billions around, leading to the company acquiring Activision Blizzard and Bethesda. Sony’s acquisitions have been smaller but also quite significant, and they have been mostly centered on studios that synergize with the company’s future goals. For instance, the acquisition of Nixxes Software is likely to support Sony’s push to move more of its games to the PC market, as Nixxes has experience with developing PC ports.
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One of Sony’s most recent big purchases was of Bungie for $3.6 billion. This is a colossal price tag, but it appears that Sony has plans for the studio. The studio is known for creating theHaloseries, though in recent years it is most known for its work onDestinyandDestiny 2, which are popular live-service FPS games. Following the acquisition, Sony explained that Bungie will retain its independence and that the purpose of the purchase was forPlayStation Studiosto draw from Bungie’s expertise in the live-service market. These are skills that Sony needs because while PlayStation has managed to assert itself as a leader in the single-player gaming world, it has struggled to carve out a presence in the online multiplayer market.
HavingThe Last of Us 2as a constantly updated live service would certainly tie in with Sony’s current trends and trajectory. It would be a good strategy for Sony, as games likeGhost of Tsushima: Legendshave proven that PlayStation games have great potential as multiplayer games when they are handled correctly. Further evidence thatThe Last of Us 2 Factionswill be a live-service title also comes from the Twitter account @oopsleaks which is known for leaking gaming industry news. According to the account,The Last of Us 2’s multiplayer game will be a free-to-play title that will release on PS5 first, then on PC, and it is one of ten planned live-service games from PlayStation. It should be noted that the leaks have yet to be confirmed by Naughty Dog or Sony, so they should be taken with a massive grain of salt.
A lot is still unknown aboutThe Last of Us 2’s multiplayer game, but thanks to Naughty Dog’s impressive track record, there is not much to worry about. TurningThe Last of Us 2 Factionsinto a live-service game would be a daring direction to take, but there are also plenty of potential benefits. After the game’s long development period, it may be the best way for the studio to ensure that its hard work pays off for a long time to come.
The Last of Us 2is available on PS4.
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