The Last of Us Factions: Why Naughty Dog Should Take a Cue from Borderlands

The Borderlands franchise has always taken a unique approach to marketing, which has proven successful over the years. Despite its initial trailer presenting the game as a typical, unremarkable Sci-Fi shooter, subsequent trailers for the first Borderlands installment effectively conveyed the satirical and exaggerated tone that would come to define the series. Since then, every Borderlands trailer has fully embraced this tongue-in-cheek approach, reminding fans why the franchise stands out in the competitive video game market. However, Borderlands' marketing strategy doesn't stop there, and Naughty Dog could benefit from taking note of one particular tactic.

The Last of Us Factions Should Follow in Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep's Footsteps

In 2013, Borderlands 2 released Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, a DLC that allowed players to join Tiny Tina in a game of Bunkers and Badasses, the equivalent of Dungeons and Dragons in the Borderlands universe. While the DLC introduced new enemies and features, its standout feature was the unique premise of Tiny Tina as Bunker Master, serving as both narrator and creator of the adventure, with the ability to alter environments and enemies at will. This concept was so beloved that fans have been clamoring for a full game set in one of Tiny Tina's campaigns ever since. Nearly a decade later, their wish has been granted with the announcement of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, a fully-fledged spin-off that expands upon the Assault on Dragon Keep premise. In a brilliant move, 2K also released a standalone version of Assault on Dragon Keep with the subtitle "A Wonderlands One-Shot," tying the game in with the upcoming spin-off.

The decision to release Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep as a standalone game was a savvy marketing move by 2K and Gearbox. Not only did it give new players the chance to experience the fantastic expansion for the first time, but it also generated hype for the upcoming spin-off, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. The standalone release was priced at just $9.99 on launch, making it an affordable option for players while also likely bringing in a nice bit of revenue for Gearbox and 2K. Meanwhile, Naughty Dog's Last of Us Multiplayer game has been delayed and may not release at all due to concerns raised by Bungie about its viability as a live service title. Fans may have to wait longer than expected to get their hands on this highly-anticipated spin-off.

A potential solution for Naughty Dog could be to follow in the footsteps of Borderlands and release a standalone spin-off of The Last of Us Factions. Although the game's multiplayer mode is not frequently discussed in mainstream circles, there exists a devoted fanbase that continues to play it. Introducing a standalone iteration of The Last of Us Factions could serve as a means to satisfy fans with an interim release and simultaneously generate hype for the forthcoming Last of Us Multiplayer game, while also emphasizing the distinct concept of the upcoming title.