The Troubling Future of PlayStation's Last of Us Multiplayer & Deviation Games

The Last of Us Multiplayer - Behind the Scenes Trouble

PlayStation has long been synonymous with big-budget, narrative-driven gaming, dominating the single-player genre with franchises like God of War, Ratchet Clank, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. Fans have come to expect high-quality single-player adventures from the brand, but in recent years, CEO Jim Ryan has encouraged a shift towards live-service gaming. While it's important to explore new ambitions, reports suggest that the live-service model has taken center stage on the platform.

The absence of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer project at the recent PlayStation showcase left many fans disappointed. The game, which has been in development for several years, was expected to make an appearance. However, an official report from the studio revealed that the release would be delayed to ensure the game is of the highest quality and has long-term viability. According to a Bloomberg report, the delay is due to concerns about quality and the game's potential for monetization. Sony is reportedly pivoting towards a live-service game model to ensure consistent revenue from multiple titles, rather than relying on a few exclusive games to generate lump sum profits.

Bad News at Deviation Games

In a frustrating turn of events, Deviation Games, a PlayStation first-party studio, has reportedly hit a snag in the development of their brand-new first-person shooter for the PS5. Fans have been eagerly waiting for updates on the game's progress, but the studio has remained tight-lipped. Unfortunately, rumors have been circulating that the highly anticipated title has been canceled, following reports of layoffs within the studio. This news has left fans disappointed and concerned about the future of the game.

Rumors of the potential cancellation of the game have been circulating after co-founder Jason Blundell's mysterious departure from Deviation Games in late 2022. Some theories speculate that Blundell's exit was due to disagreements about the game's direction, but no official statement has been released regarding the alleged cancellation or its connection to Blundell's departure. The recent shutdown of PixelOpus, the team responsible for the popular game Concrete Genie, also adds to concerns about the state of the industry.

A Change in Direction at PlayStation

Looking Ahead to the Future of PlayStation

While PlayStation's studios were once applauded for their creativity and ability to deliver unforgettable, story-driven games like Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel's Spider-Man, the company's recent focus on live-service games is understandable given their immense popularity. However, this shift in direction may come at a cost as PlayStation places all its eggs in one basket with multiple live-service games in production, potentially alienating fans of their previous single-player offerings. This could prove to be a risky move for a company that was once celebrated for its unique and artistic games.

PlayStation's recent hesitation towards implementing live-service elements in their games may have caused them to question the capabilities of Naughty Dog, despite the studio's track record of delivering critically-acclaimed titles dating back to the days of the PS1. However, this may just be a temporary setback as PlayStation navigates the complexities of live-service game development. In fact, Guerilla Games is already hard at work on a live-service multiplayer spin-off based on their popular Horizon franchise.

The PlayStation brand still has plenty of high-profile releases like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Death Stranding 2 in the works, however, and they seem to stray from the live-service model, which is a good sign that the future of the company is not exclusively tied to multiplayer titles.