With the latest untitled multiplayer project fromThe Last of Usconfirmed to still be in development, Naughty Dog should look to the likes ofLeft 4 DeadorCall of Dutyin order to adapt its story- and character-driven focus to the zombie survival format. Though this wouldn’t be the first attempt to bring multiplayer toThe Last of Us, the mode is usually overshadowed by the narrative-rich single-player campaign. But since Naughty Dog remains tight-lipped about its upcoming spin-off and with multiplayer absent fromThe Last of Us Part 2, players can only struggle to envision what a standaloneThe Last of Usmultiplayer game might look like.
While it’s currently relegated toThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us Remastered,Naughty Dog’s Factions multiplayerwas fundamentally limited to PvP. Though it may have been the most straightforward approach that maximized player engagement, the Infected are nowhere to be seen across the various multiplayer modes. As the Infected remains one of the series' defining features, Naughty Dog should look to games likeLeft 4 Deadto understand how it too could add PvE gameplay alongside PvP, ultimately broadening its appeal to players while ensuring thatThe Last of Us' multiplayer doesn’t lose sight of its Infected.
RELATED:How The Last of Us Multiplayer Game Could Change The Status Quo of the Series
Confirmed The Last of Us Multiplayer Details Complicate Things
Despite being in development since 2020 and announced in mid-2022, there isn’t much that’s officially known aboutThe Last of Us' multiplayer,which has let fan speculation run wild from smaller details such as returning gameplay mechanics to bigger expectations likean encounter withThe Last of Us Part 2’sRat King. However, recent comments by Neil Druckmann have finally given an insight into the upcoming spin-off where he states that it’s Naughty Dog’s most ambitious title to date and that like otherThe Last of Usgames, it will have its own story.
Though this might be good news to fans ofNaughty Dog and its single-player legacy, it does raise questions as to howThe Last of Us' multiplayerwill negotiate multiplayer gameplay while delivering the same caliber of story-telling the developer is known for. While it’s not completely impossible to create a working narrative that’s malleable to balance with multiplayer gameplay,The Last of UsFactions has demonstrated how well it can afford character-building and high-stake narratives with meaningful consequences in PvP alone.
The Last of Us Multiplayer Should Go Cooperative
At present, it does seem thatThe Last of Us' multiplayerhas been primed to be PvP withThe Last of Us Part 2expanding the number of factions in the series, such as the likes of the Washington Liberation Front, the Seraphites, and the Rattlers joining the Fireflies and FEDRA. But similar to the rise in asymmetrical horror games that pits predator against prey, some have already called forThe Last of Us' multiplayerto reintroduce the infected bylearning fromLeft 4 Dead’sVersus Modewith teams taking control of humans and Infected.
However, while this might add some diversity to the style of gameplay to be had, this still limitsThe Last of Us' multiplayerto a PvP format. Arguably, the project should go further withLeft 4 Dead’sapproach orCall of Duty’szombie modes by incorporating a PvE co-op campaign as part of its multiplayer, where players face off against the infected. Not only could this help retain the series' emphasis on stealth and strategy, but it would giveNaughty Dog’s storytellingthe room to thrive and less competitive players a chance to still experience the latestThe Last of Usgame.
The Last of Us' multiplayerproject is currently in development.
MORE:The Last of Us Multiplayer Spin-Off Would Be Wise to Feature Cameos From Minor Characters
