The Last of Us Fans Start Petition to Revive Canceled Multiplayer Game

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A passionate fan of The Last of Us has started a petition asking Naughty Dog and Sony to bring back the canceled multiplayer game. Known as Factions 2 by players, the game began as a multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part II but later became its own project before Naughty Dog ultimately decided to cancel it in 2023.

In 2023, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, Naughty Dog faced a difficult choice. They had to decide whether to divide their efforts between two games – The Last of Us Online and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet – or concentrate on a single project. Ultimately, they decided to cancel The Last of Us Online and dedicate all resources to Intergalactic. Despite this, many fans are hoping Naughty Dog will reconsider and revive the canceled project.

The Last of Us Petition Already Has Hundreds of Supporters

A petition created by Kristopher McCabe, called “Release The Last of Us Online,” is gaining traction on Change.org, with hundreds of people already signing it. The petition explains that fans have been asking for updates or a continuation of the Factions multiplayer mode for over six years – whether as an update to The Last of Us Part One or Part Two, or as a separate online game. Now, the creators of the petition are asking those in charge to keep their 2020 promise and release the next version of Factions online.

People who play video games and want to show their support for the petition can sign it on Change.org with their email address and a current address.

Why Fans Think Now Is the Best Time to Revive the Game

Honestly, a lot of us gamers have been saying for ages that third-person shooters with both PvE and PvP – like team-based stuff – are huge. It’s awesome to see the person who started this petition point that out – there’s definitely an audience for a game like Factions to come back, and maybe even be way bigger this time around. Plus, I heard a former Naughty Dog dev dropped some hints recently, which might be adding fuel to the fire!

Vinit Agarwal, who led the now-canceled project, recently shared that The Last of Us Online was almost finished – about 80% complete – when the decision was made to stop development. He also mentioned that developers who played early versions of the game considered it the best multiplayer experience they’d ever had. This news, about a game that might never be released, has likely disappointed fans of the Factions mode and led them to ask the developers to reconsider releasing it.

The Future of The Last of Us Online Is a Mystery

It’s unclear how successful this petition will be, or if it will actually change anything at the company. While gamers have used petitions to get results from big companies before, Naughty Dog is currently busy with their new game, Intergalactic, and another secret project. This makes it unlikely they’ll suddenly revisit an old idea they’ve already put aside.

Despite the lack of official announcements, fans of The Last of Us have reason to be optimistic. Neil Druckmann, the series creator, recently posted a mysterious message about the future of the franchise, leading some to believe a third game – The Last of Us Part 3 – could be in development, or that the online multiplayer mode, Factions, might return.

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2026-05-01 22:35