Naughty Dog Job Hints TLOU2 Spin-Off Could Be A Standalone Game

The Last Of Us as a series is an extraordinary example of the current state of single-player video game experiences. The first game made many reassess exactly what a single-player game could accomplish with its storytelling and solidified developers Naughty Dog as masters of their craft, and the controversial second instalment of the series pushed not only the boundaries of visuals in modern gaming but pushed players to challenge their preconceptions of what a sequel can do. The shock of the story that The Last of Us Part II delivered very much dampened the fact, however, that the series was stretching its legs and wandering into the multiplayer space.

The Factions game mode was one that was set to join the apocalyptic sadness-simulator post-launch, but it simply never arrived. It was a disappointment for some fans, with others remaining sceptical that the series, spending as much time in the single-player format as it had, wouldn’t successfully make the jump to a gaming experience that rests on other players. But, we might find out if it could work very soon, as it turns out.

The Last Of Us Multiplayer Spinoff Rumoured To Go Standalone

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As a new addition to the ever-growing list of game leaks brought about by job listings, Factions looks set to finally see the light of day after all, but perhaps in a shape we hadn’t expected. Naughty Dog is hiring for two different roles, a gameplay scripter and a level designer, but most curiously, these roles are set to be for the studio’s first standalone multiplayer game.

In light of the news that Naughty Dog is giving a multiplayer experience a shot as its own product, it’s thought amongst fans that the progress that had been made on the unreleased Factions mode is being put to use in this title, with assets being shifted to make way for a potential new story with new characters.

It might mean the multiplayer experience is dead in the water for The Last of Us, but its gameplay has a lot of potential, and could very well be adapted to a multiplayer experience. It’ll no doubt be interesting to see how Naughty Dog join the multiplayer gaming space, but knowing them, it’s almost certainly going to be one to watch.

Images via Naughty Dog