GAMERTIMES

Fans of The Last of Us are rallying once again. A new Change.org petition calls on Naughty Dog and PlayStation to release the canceled The Last of Us Online multiplayer project, widely seen as the spiritual successor to the beloved Factions mode.

What Is The Last of Us Online Petition Asking For?

The petition, titled “Release The Last of Us Online”, urges Naughty Dog, Sony PlayStation, and stakeholders to revive or release the multiplayer game that was in development for years. It highlights the deep attachment fans have to the original Factions multiplayer from The Last of Us and Remastered, which remains one of the most praised asymmetric multiplayer experiences in gaming.

Key arguments in the petition include:

• Honoring the dedication of longtime fans who have waited for updates or a full sequel to Factions.
• Fulfilling the 2020 promise of a next chapter in the online experience.
• Capitalizing on the strong market for quality multiplayer titles while respecting Naughty Dog’s single-player expertise.

As of the latest reports, the petition has gained hundreds of signatures and continues to climb, with supporters sharing stories of their love for the tense, narrative-driven multiplayer that defined early The Last of Us success.

Why Was The Last of Us Multiplayer Canceled?

In December 2023, Naughty Dog officially announced the cancellation of the standalone The Last of Us Online project. The studio explained that developing and maintaining a live-service game would require a long-term commitment that would pull resources away from their core strength: crafting exceptional single-player narrative experiences.

The project reportedly reached an advanced stage (with some reports suggesting it was significantly complete) after years of work, building hype following teasers and the success of Factions.

Naughty Dog has since shifted focus. The studio announced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new single-player franchise set in a fresh sci-fi universe, currently in development for PlayStation 5.

Will Fans Ever Get The Last of Us Factions 2 or Online Mode?

This isn’t the first time fans have pushed for more multiplayer content. The original Factions mode still has a dedicated community years later, with players calling for patches, new maps, or even integration into The Last of Us Part I or Part II remasters.

Pros of release:

• Satisfy a passionate fanbase.
• Potentially strong revenue as a live-service title.
• Preserve legacy of one of gaming’s best multiplayer modes.

Challenges:

• High ongoing costs and maintenance for live-service games.
• Naughty Dog’s proven success and preference for single-player narratives (The Last of Us series, Uncharted).
• Risk of diluting quality or diverting resources from upcoming titles like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Would you want The Last of Us Online released someday? Many fans say yes – whether as a full release, a remastered Factions experience, or even a smaller-scale project handled by another studio to let Naughty Dog stay focused on story-driven games.