During Summer Game Fest, Naughty Dog finally unveiled news on the eagerly-awaited The Last of Us Part 2 standalone multiplayer game, offering a first look at the upcoming title with a piece of concept art. Though it didn't receive much attention ahead of launch, The Last of Us' Factions mode quickly became a fan-favorite aspect of the experience post-launch in the summer of 2013, but it was missing in The Last of Us 2.
The Last of Us Part 2 had what was perhaps one of the most divisive launches in video game history, with many fans turning their backs on the 2020 game pre-launch after leaks revealed its controversial storyline. Since then, the game has gone on to receive multiple awards and accolades, and has been firmly cemented as one of Naughty Dog's most successful releases of all time. Fans have been eagerly awaiting more news on TLOU 2's standalone multiplayer, but while it was confirmed, the developer kept quiet on details.
The Last of Us fans got their first look at Part 2's standalone multiplayer game during the June 2022 Summer Game Fest, which showed off a teaser of what's to come through concept art. While gameplay or a trailer of any kind have yet to be revealed, Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann did tease that fans will find out more in 2023. Hints from the director suggest it could be one of the biggest projects from the studio so far, and the creator noted that players can expect it to be on par with the company's single-player games.
Fans were eager to see how the studio would expand upon multiplayer in The Last of Us 2, yet an effort to focus on completing the story forced the crew to sideline Factions for a time. In its earlier release, Naughty Dog found an inventive way of implementing the core tenets of The Last of Us into its online functionality. For instance, scavenging for supplies proved an integral part of Factions' moment-to-moment gameplay. The main game's Listening Mode feature could make or break a player's chances at survival, while carefully moving through the environment was in many ways imperative to lasting long-term in any given match.
There is still much to be revealed on The Last of Us Part 2's multiplayer game, including how it will implement microtransactions, and what it will look like in action. News of potential in-game purchases came to light earlier this year, when a Naughty Dog job listing hinted at microtransactions being included. Now that a first look has officially been revealed, it seems to only be a matter of time until the developer reveals more on The Last of Us Part 2's multiplayer.
Source: The Game Awards/YouTube