Summary
The cancelation ofThe Last of Us Onlinehas left fans in the dark about which Naughty Dog project will take its place. There has yet to be any new game officially announced, and this may leave some wondering what this cancelation means for the future of Naughty Dog. As a beloved studio responsible for the likes ofJak and DaxterandUncharted, Naughty Dog became even more respected with the success ofThe Last of Usin 2013. The story of Joel and Ellie changed the landscape of horror storytelling in gaming, and that success made way for its sequel and even a critically acclaimed television adaptation.
When the official announcement forThe Last of Us Onlinewas made, many fans were excited at the prospect of potentially getting a game similar toFactions, the online multiplayer mode included inThe Last of Us. However, Naughty Dog unfortunately had toscrapThe Last of Us Online, and this has brought up many questions surrounding Naughty Dog’s future and what to expect next from the studio.
The Last of Us Online’s Cancelation Could Actually Be Good News
Although there is no longer an online multiplayer version ofThe Last of Usto look forward to, all hope is not lost for Naughty Dog. With the recent reveal ofThe Last of Us 2 Remasteredfor the PS5, some fans have been worried that the developer is only focusing on remasters, but recent news suggests thatNaughty Dog is working on several new projects, and this is good news for fans of the studio’s work.
Naughty Dog Can Get Back to What it Does Best
It’s no secret that Naughty Dog is at its best when focusing on single-player games. Although it can be necessary to change paths in order to grow, sometimes sticking to what has been proven to work is actually the best move. Through the years, Naughty Dog has brought to life some of the greatest single-player experiences in modern gaming, and scrappingThe Last of Us Onlineallows the studio to hone its craft even more.Naughty Dog gamesare known for their compelling stories and one-of-a-kind protagonists and villains, and an online multiplayer title just doesn’t allow the studio to shine in that way.
Long-Awaited Sequels and New IP Could Possibly Arrive Sooner
The aforementioned news of Naughty Dog silently working on multiple new single-player titles is the silver lining ofThe Last of Us Online’s cancelation. Not only does it mean the chance ofThe Last of Us 3arriving sooner is possible, but it also means fans could either be introduced to a fresh IP or a long-awaited sequel, like a newJak and Daxtergame or another chapter in theUnchartedfranchise. A return to one of Naughty Dog’s many different franchises would be incredibly exciting, but it would also be great to see what a new IP from the studio could look like, and the cancelation makes this feel far more likely now.
Although this is all just speculation at this point, Naughty Dog may announce its next project sometime next year. The upcomingrelease ofThe Last of Us 2 Remasteredwill buy Naughty Dog some time, but the studio would benefit from informing fans sooner rather than later to drum up excitement again. It’s disappointing that gamers will never get to seeThe Last of Us Onlinecome to fruition, but this sacrifice is a necessary move in order for Naughty Dog to continue to perfect what the studio does best.
