Naughty Dog will expand their gritty post-apocalyptic world with a new online mode, but it won't be included in The Last of Us Part II. Instead it could be released as a standalone game on PS4.
The Last of Us Part II is singleplayer-only, but Naughty Dog isn't giving up on online multiplayer any time soon. Today the studio confirmed they're still exploring multiplayer avenues for the series. Naughty Dog is cooking up an evolution of the original Factions multiplayer mode, but it could be a long time before it's ready.
The devs say their vision simply won't fit into an extra mode--it's too big and too ambitious to just be a tacked-on optional experience. No, it deserves something more. Something bigger. It's own retail SKU, for instance, complete with online hooks, engagement, and possibly even microtransactions--all business paths Sony says it needs to work on.
Here's what Naughty Dog said in their statement:
"As we've stated, the singleplayer campaign is far and away the most ambitious project Naughty Dog has ever undertaken. Likewise, as development began on the evolution of our Factions mode from The Last of Us Part I, the vision of the team grew beyond an additional mode that could be included with our enormous singleplayer campaign. Wanting to support both visions, we made the difficult choice that The Last of Us Part II would not include an online mode.
"However, you will eventually experience the fruits of our team's online ambition, but not as part of The Last of Us Part II. When and where it will be realized is still to be determined.
"But rest assured, we are as big a fan of Factions as the rest of our community and are excited to share more when it's ready."
The team also revealed a ton of new info about The Last of Us Part II, including game mechanics, story beats, new enemies, and much more.
The Last of Us Part II releases on February 21, 2020 exclusively on PlayStation 4.
Check below for more info about the game:
Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure. As she hunts those responsible one by one, she is confronted with the devastating physical and emotional repercussions of her actions.
A Complex and Emotional Story
Experience the escalating moral conflicts created by Ellie's relentless pursuit of vengeance. The cycle of violence left in her wake will challenge your notions of right versus wrong, good versus evil, and hero versus villain.
A Beautiful Yet Dangerous World
Set out on Ellie's journey, taking her from the peaceful mountains and forests of Jackson to the lush, overgrown ruins of greater Seattle. Encounter new survivor groups, unfamiliar and treacherous environments, and terrifying evolutions of the infected. Brought to life by the latest iteration of the Naughty Dog engine, the deadly characters and world are more realistic and meticulously detailed than ever before.
Tense and Desperate Action-Survival Gameplay
New and evolved gameplay systems deliver upon the life-or-death stakes of Ellie's journey through the hostile world. Feel her desperate struggle for survival through improved features such as high-intensity melee combat, fluid movement, and dynamic stealth. A broad variety of weapons, crafting items, skills, and upgrades allows you to personalize Ellie's capabilities to your play style.