Naughty Dog canceled The Last of Us Online in 2023. Now, former Game Director Vinit Agarwal confirms the project reached 80% completion before the studio pulled the plug. The game was in development for nearly seven years. Agarwal described the project as:
Very, very close to done.
Management killed the game a mere 24 hours before the public announcement. Agarwal called the sudden decision a “devastating moment”.
Development began in 2016 alongside The Last of Us Part 2. The original plan aimed to expand the popular ‘Factions’ multiplayer mode from the 2013 game. Then, the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns hit. The gaming industry saw a massive surge in revenue and player engagement. Consequently, PlayStation poured funding into the multiplayer project. Internally, the game performed exceptionally well during testing. Naughty Dog officially announced the title in 2022.
However, ambition quickly became a liability. As production ramped up, the massive scope of a live-service game became undeniable. Sustaining an online multiplayer universe requires years of continuous post-launch support. Therefore, Naughty Dog faced a harsh ultimatum. They could funnel all their resources into this live-service model, or they could protect their legacy. Ultimately, the studio refused to cripple its ability to create the narrative-driven, single-player experiences that define its brand. As the pandemic boom stabilized, they had to choose between the experimental multiplayer title and Neil Druckmann’s next major project.
Naughty Dog chose their single-player roots. They pivoted all resources toward “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet”. The studio officially revealed this PS5-exclusive sci-fi IP at The Game Awards 2024. Billed as their “wildest, most creative story yet”, the new game features a star-studded cast. Currently, the project still lacks an official release window.
