Naughty Dog is working on a standalone multiplayer game, having turned The Last of Us 2's prototype online mode into a full-fledged title.
Speaking at Summer Games Fest 2022, The Last of Us 2 co-director Neil Druckmann said the game's in-development multiplayer turned into a standalone game after becoming too ambitious. After two years of development, the studio's vision for the gameplay has grown so much that they believe the title can exist as a stand-alone entity.
Only one piece of concept art for the game was shared during the showcase. The upcoming multiplayer title will still be based on The Last of Us universe, and Druckmann said it's as big as any of Naughty Dog's single-player games. It will also have a central stage.
(*two*)
(Image credit: Naughty Dog)The as yet unnamed multiplayer title will feature a new cast of characters and a city that has yet to appear in The Last of Us series. Druckmann said his story will be told in a way unique to the game, and veterans of Uncharted and The Last of Us series are working on the project.
More details about the secret title are expected to be released next year. With The Last of Us 2 now two years in the making, a 2023 release date isn't entirely out of the question, either.