From the concept art shown, it appears that players will have sprawling environments to explore, and this could influence how the levels of the single-player games are designed. The game could also reveal more about the factions that have formed in the wake of America’s societal collapse. Although multiplayer gaming may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the upcoming game could be an important piece in the overall world of The Last of Us, which may make it a must-play title for fans.

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The Last of Us Multiplayer Could Introduce More Open-World Areas

Not much is known about the upcoming The Last of Us multiplayer game. However, from the few details that Naughty Dog has shared, it is apparent that it is a highly ambitious project that will test the studio in ways it has never been tested before. Concept art depicts a massive setting, and it appears that the multiplayer game takes place in San Francisco, as the Golden Gate Bridge is visible in the background. One image depicts a decrepit city with an abandoned cruise ship in the distance, while in the second image, there are two characters a few feet away from the ship. This suggests that the sprawling urban landscape which lies before the ship may be accessible, which could lead to some extremely expansive environments to explore.

Past The Last of Us games have been quite linear, and they feature levels that typically aren’t meant to be backtracked through. The studio experimented with a bit in The Last of Us Part 2 where players briefly explore a downtown area. For a brief moment, players do have an open-world level complete with a map to help gamers find their bearings. Druckmann describes the game as having a “massive scope and immense world,” which lends further evidence to the idea that players will have large open-world areas to explore.

If the project is successful, gamers could see The Last of Us embrace an open-world style of gameplay. With the series being so heavily narrative-focused, it is unlikely that it will ever entirely give up its linear format, though the multiplayer game could lead to more open-world areas making an appearance in the single-player games. This is great for players who love exploration, but it also raises the stakes, as it creates far more spaces for enemies to hide and plan ambushes.

The Last of Us Multiplayer Could Reveal More About Factions

In The Last of Us Part 1, players learn of a faction called the Fireflies that stands against FEDRA and hopes to liberate people from government control. However, they aren’t the only group that has formed in the franchise’s post-apocalyptic world. As players discover in The Last of Us Part 2, there are other factions, including the Washington Liberation Front and the Rattlers. Each of these factions has its own philosophies, ways of life, and aims. If The Last of Us multiplayer game is as massive as it sounds, players could learn about even more factions that are vying for power. These factions, depending on their goals, could end up influencing the series as a whole just as factions like the Seraphites have.

The Last of Us Part 2 was released in 2020, and since then fans have been patiently waiting for its multiplayer counterpart to release. Though the game has been in development for a long time, gamers haven’t been left in the cold entirely, as there has been plenty of activity around the IP. In addition to a new television adaptation, fans also got a stunning remake of the first game on PS5. The Last of Us remake is slated to hit the PC market in March, and a 2024 release for the multiplayer version would be great to see.

The Last of Us multiplayer game is in development.

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