Summary
The Last of Us Onlinehas officially been hit with cancelation—with Naughty Dog opting to pursue more singleplayer experiences rather than an online service with long-term support. However, Sony still has a great deal of live-service content rumored to be in the works, even if the halting ofThe Last of Us' live service title throws a spanner in the works.
Naughty Dog cancelingThe Last of Us Onlinewas met with a mixed response from the fanbase. Despite some saddened reactions, especially from those who liked Factions multiplayer in the series' original release, many have a preference for singleplayer games. The pendulum of public opinion is swinging against live-services more and more, with 2023 especially becoming a graveyard for the genre.Apex Legends Mobile,Rumbleverse, andKnockout Cityare among the live-services to get the axe this year—and they aren’t alone. Live-services may be profitable, but they’re also incredibly expensive and require players to invest an incredible amount of time, and Sony is attempting to make several happen at the same time.
Sony’s Live-Service Plans Are Still Ongoing
This cancelation is in the context of a wider plan. In 2022, it was announced thatSony would release 10 live-services by 2026. Getting 10 distinct live services up-and-running in that timespan is an incredibly lofty goal, and that’s without mentioning the problem of running them simultaneously. Very little is known about the specifics of Sony’s plans, but this recent cancelation is sure to be detrimental. Its hope for its live service pivot rests in whatever else is on its upcoming slate, and there are numerous rumors about those projects.
Bungie Matter
One of the biggest elements of these rumors is the speculation surroundingBungie Matter. What this game will be is unknown, but ajob listing for Bungie from this yearhas led many to assume thatMatterwill have ‘many modes of online play’, which is pretty typical for an online game. Little else has been ascertained beyond a 2025 release rumor. Bungie is a big part of Sony’s plans, with the live-service pivot announced soon after the acquisition. Therefore, Sony will need to play carefully with the details if it wants to get its roadmap ready in time; it has a choice between building up hype or going for some kind of surprise drop, but it will have to pick one.
Concord
Sony’s acquisition of Firewalk Studios in 2021 was something of a surprise for fans. Formed in 2018, Firewalk had no games under its belt when Sony bought it—and it still doesn’t now. However, the reveal ofConcordthis yearcould show Sony’s thinking with Firewalk.Concordwas announced in May 2023, purporting to be a multiplayer sci-fi FPS that will release in 2024. If this multiplayer piece turns out to be part of Sony’s live-service ambitions, it would do well to let more gamers know about it—as the title’s reveal trailer still languishes in relative obscurity.
Fairgames
Another case of a multiplayer game that could factor into Sony’s live-service plans,Fairgamesis a multiplayer PVP heist titlethat will see players battle for the chance to rob the same vault. The game has given fans similar vibes to thePaydayseries, a niche small enough that competition could perhaps be found. Again, the degree to whichFairgamesfactors into the live-service plan is unknown, but it’s not unlikely; at this stage, Sony doesn’t have much time for more announcements before 2026.
Horizon Multiplayer Game
Guerrila Games confirmed a multiplayerHorizongamein 2022. Some alpha footage has leaked but, as with other live-service Sony projects, details remain scarce. The adaptation of a singleplayer franchise into a multiplayer title runs a similar gambit toThe Last Of Us Online, so Sony will have to tread carefully with its demands as to not have a repeat cancelation.
Deviation Games and Sony’s London Studio are also working on their own multiplayer projects. However, after a round of layoffs in 2023, it looks like Deviation’s project may have been canceled.
The Last of Us
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey. Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
