Naughty Dog postpones The Last of Us multiplayer and announces new game

Naughty Dog is internally delaying the upcoming The Last of Us multiplayer game because the game ‘needs more time’. No public release date has yet been announced. At the same time, the studio announces an as yet unknown new single-player game.

“We know many of you are looking forward to hearing more about The Last of Us multiplayer. We’re very proud of the work our studio has done so far, but as development continues we realize it’s best for the game is to give it more time”, Naughty Dog said in a statement on Twitter.

Subsequently, the studio announces that it is working on a ‘brand new single-player experience’. No details about this game are known yet. It is therefore not yet clear whether it concerns a possible third part in The Last of Us series or whether it concerns another IP.

The multiplayer game in question was initially intended as a companion to 2020’s The Last of Us: Part II, but Naughty Dog ultimately decided to make it a standalone game. According to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier insiders say the team working on TLOU multiplayer has recently been reduced to a smaller group following a recent review.

Naughty Dog has reportedly asked Bungie, the studio behind Destiny 2, among others, to evaluate the game. Bungie is said to have expressed concerns about whether the multiplayer project would be able to keep players engaged for a longer period of time. Although the project has not been canceled, many developers have been assigned to other projects.

The Last Of Us Part II. Image: Naughty Dog