Last of Us Online Was Nearly Finished Before Its Heartbreaking Cancellation, Dev Reveals

It’s been nearly three years since Naughty Dog decided to scrap a planned multiplayer game set in the Last of Us universe, shifting focus back to its hallmark single-player narrative experiences, including the upcoming PS5 title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Reports suggest that the multiplayer project was in its final stages when the studio made the tough call to cancel it.

Vinit Agarwal, who directed the project before leaving Naughty Dog to establish a new studio in Japan, recently shared insights during an in-depth interview. He revealed that The Last of Us Online was about “80 percent” finished before it was ultimately shelved.

Agarwal also discussed Sony’s ill-fated shift towards live-service games, which he claims began around 2020 as the pandemic pushed more players to seek online connections while stuck at home. However, as restrictions eased, interest in online gaming waned, leading to a pullback on investments in these ongoing titles. This shift, combined with a reassessment of Naughty Dog’s internal resources, contributed to the cancellation of The Last of Us Online.

At a certain point, a choice had to be made: continue with this multiplayer project or focus on the next game directed by Neil Druckmann, the studio’s president. It’s easy to see why they opted for the title that represents the studio’s core identity over an experimental venture. For Agarwal, this was a heartbreaking moment, especially after dedicating seven years to the project. He learned of the cancellation just a day before it was made public, a situation he described as unfortunate but necessary for managing the studio’s messaging.

Currently, Naughty Dog is focused on Intergalactic, but Druckmann continues to hint at more Last of Us content in the future. With six years having passed since The Last of Us Part II—almost as long as the gap between the first two games—it wouldn’t be surprising if we don’t see a potential Last of Us Part III until the 2030s, possibly on the PlayStation 6.