Ex-Director Reveals Last of Us Online Was 80% Done Before Axing

Former Naughty Dog game director Vinit Agarwal revealed new details about the canceled standalone multiplayer title The Last of Us Online, stating that the project was approximately 80 percent complete after seven years of development when it was scrapped in December 2023.

Agarwal, who led the game's direction, shared his insights during a recent interview on the Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo. The project originated during the development of The Last of Us Part II, initially planned as a multiplayer component but expanded into a full live-service game due to its growing scope. Set in the post-apocalyptic universe of the series, it built on the popular Factions mode from the first game, aiming to deliver a persistent online experience with player-versus-player elements.

Development began around 2016, shortly after Uncharted 4's completion, but gained significant momentum in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Agarwal explained that the global lockdowns boosted demand for online gaming, as people sought ways to connect virtually. "Online games specifically saw a huge boost because people wanted to play with their friends; they couldn't see their friends, so they had to play online...