Petition for the revival of The Last of Us multiplayer game

The Last of Us fanbase has launched a petition asking developer Naughty Dog and Sony to bring back the canceled multiplayer spin-off, often referred to as Factions 2. The online game was originally planned as a multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part II before evolving into a separate project, which was eventually shelved.

Background and cancellation

In 2023, Naughty Dog, fully aware of the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to cancel the multiplayer spin-off. The studio faced a difficult choice: split its resources between two projects, The Last of Us Online and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, or focus entirely on one. The decision was made to concentrate resources on Intergalactic, and development on the multiplayer spin-off came to an end.

Fan activism and the petition

The petition, titled "Release The Last of Us Online," was started by Kristopher McCabe and has already gathered hundreds of signatures on Change.org. It points out that fans have been asking for updates or a follow-up to the Factions mode for more than six years. Supporters hope Naughty Dog can follow through on its 2020 promise and take the next step with Factions Online.

Why fans want it back

The enthusiasm behind the request is partly tied to the declining popularity of multiplayer shooters. With third-person PvE and PvP games seeing strong success, there is clear market demand for a refreshed version of Factions. In addition, Vinit Agarwal, the director of the canceled project, revealed that the game was nearly 80% complete and that testers called it the best multiplayer game they had ever played. That kind of praise has only fueled fan frustration and encouraged more calls for its return.

The future of The Last of Us Online

It remains to be seen how many signatures the petition will ultimately collect, and whether it can have any meaningful impact on Naughty Dog's decision-making. History shows that gamers have sometimes achieved their goals through petitions like this, but with Naughty Dog currently working on Intergalactic and another unannounced project, the chances of reviving a canceled game appear slim. That said, there are still small signs of hope for franchise fans. Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us series, recently shared a cryptic message about the future of the IP, which some have interpreted as a possible hint at the return of The Last of Us Part III or the revival of Factions.