Former Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shuhei Yoshida spoke on the Sacred Symbols podcast about the cancellation of Naughty Dog’s multiplayer game service The Last of Us Online.
Image source: Naughty Dog
Recall that The Last of Us Online had been in pre-production since The Last of Us Part II, and in December 2023, Naughty Dog canceled the game to avoid becoming a studio “specializing exclusively in games-as-services.”
According to Yoshida, the idea to release The Last of Us Online belonged to Naughty Dog itself, “and they really wanted to do it.” The former head of the project also managed to play and considered it “excellent.”
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The Last of Us Online concept art
In addition to The Last of Us Online, Sony and its studios have canceled seven other in-development service games in recent years, including two very recent ones and the already-released team-based hero shooter Concord.
At the same time, contrary to popular belief, the Japanese company’s management did not force teams to take on games-as-services. According to Yoshida, these decisions were made in a more mutual manner.
Still in development are Bungie’s PvP shooter Marathon, Guerrilla Games’ multiplayer Horizon, and Haven Studios’ co-op action game Fairgames. The only successful project of the initiative is Helldivers 2, released in February 2024.