Naughty Dog, well-known for the "The Last of Us" series, has reportedly laid off some of its employees and slowed down the development of the multiplayer game based on the franchise. The information was obtained by Kotaku from two sources.

According to the sources, up to 25 contract workers, primarily from the quality assurance team, are being let go. Full-time employees are not thought to be affected. The staff are reportedly being encouraged to keep the news quiet. Although it's not confirmed, it is suggested that these affected workers were primarily working on the multiplayer game within "The Last of Us" franchise.

Kotaku reports that although the game is not canceled, its development is nearly at a standstill. This news aligns with rumors earlier this year about the project's challenging development process. The multiplayer game development project seems to have been scaled back.

Sadly, layoffs within the gaming industry have become a common occurrence this year. Team17 and the Hearthstone team have also recently seen layoffs, along with Epic Games, CD Projekt Red, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Bioware, and Crystal Dynamics.

It's indeed disheartening if the project is indeed suspended, as expressed by some game enthusiasts. Despite all the difficulties, fans are keeping their hopes alive for further expansion of the beloved franchise.