A dedicated Last of Us fan has launched a petition urging developer Naughty Dog, Sony, and even stakeholders to revive the game’s multiplayer spin-off that was canceled in 2023. Commonly known among The Last of Us players as Factions 2, the online game was originally planned as a multiplayer mode for the second installment before evolving into a separate project, only to be halted by the developer altogether.
Naughty Dog had to make a tough decision back in 2023, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The studio had to choose between splitting its resources between two projects, The Last of Us Online and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, or focusing on just one. In the end, it chose to cancel the spin-off and channel all its resources into Intergalactic. Nevertheless, a large group of fans wants Naughty Dog to reverse this decision.
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The Last of Us Petition Already Has Hundreds of Supporters
Created by Kristopher McCabe, the petition titled “Release The Last of Us Online” has already gained support from hundreds of users on Change.org, with the number of signatures continuing to rise. “For over six years,” the petition says, “fans desperately requested updates or a sequel [to Factions], as either a patch for The Last of Us Part One or Part Two, or a live service project maintained by a studio separate from Naughty Dog.” Now, they are urging decision-makers to “fulfill their 2020 promise and release the next chapter of Factions online.”
Why Fans Think Now Is the Best Time to Revive the Game
As explained by the petition’s creator, “Third-person PvE and PvP multiplayer shooters have proven immensely popular, demonstrating a clear market and audience for a refreshed and expanded version of Factions.” Another factor behind the reignited push could be recent comments from one of Naughty Dog’s former developers.
Vinit Agarwal, the canceled project’s director, recently revealed that The Last of Us Online was nearly 80% complete when executives decided to shut it down. He also said that many developers who tested the game’s early builds told him it was the best multiplayer game they had ever played. Hearing such praise for a game that may never see the light of day has likely frustrated fans of the Factions mode and prompted them to pressure the developer to release it.
The Future of The Last of Us Online Is a Mystery
It remains to be seen how many signatures the current petition can gather and whether the movement can influence executives in any meaningful way. Gamers have indeed managed to achieve some of their goals in the past and get big companies to listen through petitions. However, with Naughty Dog currently working on Intergalactic and another unrevealed project, the chances of the studio reviving a shelved project out of nowhere seem slim.
That said, there are some small signs of hope for fans of the franchise, as Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us series, recently shared a cryptic message about the future of the IP that some believe could hint at the return of The Last of Us Part 3. He mentioned that there are still a few stops on the road for the franchise, which many interpret as a possible tease for a third game or the revival of Factions.
- Released
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September 2, 2022
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
