Horizon: Beyond the Last of Us - A Multiplayer Game in Uncharted Waters
Both Horizon and The Last of Us are eagerly awaited for their multiplayer spin-offs, but fans are left in the dark as both games have gone completely silent on updates and progress Will these highly anticipated titles meet the same fate?
Highlights
The Last of Us and Horizon franchises are working on multiplayer spin-offs, but little is known about the projects, and they have been radio-silent for some time.
Naughty Dog is reportedly facing challenges in their efforts to ensure the long-term viability of The Last of Us' multiplayer game, resulting in additional delays. The lack of communication suggests that both Naughty Dog and Guerrilla Games are prioritizing the delivery of exceptional multiplayer experiences and are aiming to establish themselves as leaders in PlayStation's live-service multiplayer games.
The ongoing debate surrounding video game development time for indie games versus AAA titles has always been a topic of discussion. In today's industry, it is considered rare for a full AAA first-party game to be released in less than two years. However, there are some titles that can remain silent for years, and it appears that The Last of Us and Horizon's multiplayer spin-offs may be following suit.
In line with PlayStation's aim to expand its live-service offerings, both The Last of Us and Horizon franchises are set to receive multiplayer spin-offs. Not much information is available about these projects, but it can be assumed that they have been in development for quite some time. Although both games face uncertainty at the moment, it is hoped that this extended development period will lead to a positive outcome.
Horizon and The Last of Us' Multiplayer Spin-offs Have Both Gone Radio-Silent
In 2019, Naughty Dog confirmed that The Last of Us Part 2 would not have a multiplayer mode, sparking speculation about a separate Last of Us multiplayer game. In 2021, Naughty Dog announced that they were indeed working on such a game. However, at Summer Game Fest 2022, the untitled Last of Us multiplayer game was officially announced with the caveat that fans would have to wait until 2023 for more details.
Unfortunately, it appears that the promised update won't be happening. According to a Bloomberg report in May, Naughty Dog had temporarily halted development on the multiplayer game in order to reassess its direction and long-term viability. Sony had allegedly enlisted the help of Bungie to explore the possibility of implementing a live-service model, but faced challenges in making it a reality. In response to the report, Naughty Dog released a statement acknowledging the need for more time. Subsequently, there has been no further communication about The Last of Us' multiplayer title.
Guerrilla's Horizon multiplayer spin-off has a unique backstory. Last December, Guerrilla confirmed the development of an online game set in Horizon's universe through a job listing. In July, Jan-Bart van Beek, Guerrilla's studio director, stated that the game would be a co-op title. Despite this, no official information has been disclosed about Horizon's multiplayer spinoff, similar to The Last of Us, which has also maintained complete silence.
Fortunately, this silence could potentially benefit both games. Despite the discouraging report on The Last of Us' multiplayer game, the fact that Naughty Dog is still investing time and effort into the project is an optimistic sign. In this case, the absence of news might actually indicate positive developments.
Naughty Dog and Guerrilla Games have remained tight-lipped about these projects, likely to ensure their utmost quality. Being at the forefront of PlayStation's new era of live-service multiplayer games, they must deliver an exceptional experience to ensure the success of the rest of PlayStation's multiplayer endeavors. Currently, a spin-off multiplayer game for The Last of Us is in the works.
