When Naughty Dog cancelled its standalone multiplayer project in late 2023, the decision closed the book on what was actually the studio's primary focus. According to new details shared by Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, The Last of Us Online was not a minor side hustle. Instead, the anticipated Factions sequel occupied the vast majority of the California developer's staff.
Quick Facts
- Developer: Naughty Dog
- Project: The Last of Us Online (standalone multiplayer)
- Cancellation Date: Late 2023
- Current Focus: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Studio Focus and Resource Allocation
A common belief among players suggested that the multiplayer title was developed on the side while most of the team built Naughty Dog's next major single-player game. Schreier clarified that the exact opposite occurred. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet did not command a majority of staff until after the multiplayer game was cancelled, at which point most personnel transitioned to the new project.
Throughout the 2020s, the studio divided its workforce between the multiplayer project and various remakes and remasters, including The Last of Us Part I, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and PlayStation 5 remasters for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Because of this allocation, Naughty Dog has not shipped a completely new intellectual property on Sony's current console generation, with Intergalactic expected to arrive next.