Naughty Dog has announced the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, a multiplayer spin-off of its acclaimed series. The studio said it could not sustain the live-service demands of the game while also creating its signature single-player games.
The studio revealed the news in a December 14 update, saying it was a “very hard decision” to stop development on the project. The game was supposed to be the studio’s “biggest online experience” ever, as big as any of its single-player games.
Fans of The Last of Us TV show can rejoice as HBO has officially confirmed that Season 2 will premiere in 2025. The announcement was made in the latest Max sizzle reel, which showcased the upcoming shows on the streaming service. Season 2 was originally slated for 2025, but the recent Hollywood strikes cast some doubt on the schedule. But with this sneak peek, it looks like it's still on track for 2025.
The second season will continue the story of Ellie and Joel, the survivors of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection. It will also introduce Abby, a new character who plays a pivotal role in The Last of Us: Part II, the video game sequel that the show is based on. Bella Ramsey, who portrays Ellie, admitted that she felt a “big fear” of not meeting the expectations of the fans after the acclaimed first season. It is scheduled to start shooting in Canada in early 2024.
The Last of Us TV show, which is a collaboration between HBO and Naughty Dog, the game developer, debuted in January 2023 and became an instant hit. It received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and was quickly renewed for a second season. The show was created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who are also the executive producers and writers.
Meanwhile, the future of The Last of Us game series is uncertain. Naughty Dog has reportedly shelved its multiplayer project and has not confirmed the development of The Last of Us: Part III.
Naughty Dog has confirmed the rumours and revealed The Last of Us Part II Remastered for the PlayStation 5, coming out on January 19, 2024. The remastered version will feature a new roguelike survival mode, a guitar free play mode, developer commentary, and more.
The new mode called No Return will challenge players to survive randomized encounters with different enemies and environmental factors. You can play as new characters and experience the game’s combat in a new way.
The Last of Us Part I has finally earned the Steam Deck verified badge. Neil Druckmann had assured fans that Ellie and Joel would make it to Valve's portable PC, but the game had a rocky launch on PC a few months ago. Now, with the v1.1.0 patch, the game runs smoothly on Steam Deck and PC. However, Naughty Dog warns that the patch will require a full shader rebuild.
The patch fixes various crashes and glitches that affected the game. It also improves the HUD and the object pushing mechanic. On PC, the patch boosts the CPU and GPU performance and enhances the textures and lighting. It also resolves many gameplay bugs and issues for a better gaming experience.
Friday, December 15, 2023 at 1:25AM 
Image: Naughty Dog