Exclusive: Naughty Dog Shuts Down The Last of Us Multiplayer Development - What This Means for Fans!

Highlights

Naughty Dog, the studio behind The Last of Us, is reportedly laying off developers, signaling potential trouble for its ambitious multiplayer project.

The gaming industry as a whole has been grappling with job cuts and project cancellations, with major companies like Microsoft and Ubisoft also revealing similar news. As a result, the downsizing at The Last of Us studio may have consequences for the progress of its multiplayer game, leaving the future of the project uncertain.

Naughty Dog, the renowned studio responsible for the highly praised The Last of Us games, is said to be letting go of its developers. The gaming industry has faced various layoffs in recent times, affecting both indie developers like Team17 and tech giants like Microsoft. Now, it appears that The Last of Us studio is joining the list of companies implementing such measures.

The year 2023 has been quite eventful in the gaming realm. Although it has witnessed several noteworthy game releases, the industry itself has been grappling with studio closures, project cancellations, and employee layoffs. In January, Microsoft made headlines by laying off 10,000 employees, including members of 343 Industries, developers of the popular Halo franchise. Subsequently, other major players in the industry such as Ubisoft, EA, and CD Projekt Red also made similar announcements. Even companies like Epic Games, known for their Unreal Engine and the game Fortnite, have had to downsize their workforce. Notably, with reports of Naughty Dog following suit, the fate of their ambitious The Last of Us multiplayer project now seems uncertain.

According to a recent report by Kotaku, Naughty Dog's ongoing multiplayer game is currently "on hold" due to company layoffs. The game, which is a spinoff of the popular "Factions" mode from the original The Last of Us game, has faced numerous challenges from its inception. In May, Naughty Dog announced a delay in the release of The Last of Us multiplayer, alongside a teaser for an exciting new single-player experience. As of now, the studio has yet to make any official announcements regarding the project. However, with the news of downsizing, it is likely that the release of a multiplayer game from Naughty Dog will be further delayed.

According to the report, Naughty Dog may lay off approximately 25 contract developers, primarily from the quality assurance testing department. These contracts are set to expire at the end of October, and the affected individuals will not receive any severance. Currently, it seems that the full-time employees at The Last of Us maker are not affected; however, the extent of the reported layoffs on the over 400 staff remains to be seen.

Adding to the challenges, the live-service genre is currently facing setbacks in the industry. Examples include Rocksteady delaying Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Respawn canceling two Apex Legends projects, and Ubisoft repeatedly postponing Skull and Bones. This has put upcoming live-service projects in a precarious position. Sony, who had previously aimed to publish a minimum of 10 live-service games by 2026, is seemingly adjusting its expectations following the news of Naughty Dog's layoffs. While Sony has other projects like Bungie's Marathon in progress, the future of Naughty Dog's multiplayer plans in The Last of Us universe is uncertain.

The Last of Us multiplayer game is in development.

Source: Kotaku