Naughty Dog may have canceled its The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer project, but Factions fans can now at least have a new PvP mode to look forward to… if they’re on PC.
Modder Speclizer uploaded 25 minutes of early gameplay for a mod they’re working on that will let players go head-to-head as Abby, Ellie, and potentially other characters from the PlayStation video game series. The video kicks off with the news that, after starting development in January 2026, it’s expected to launch this September.
It’s admittedly a bit rough around the edges in its current state but, so far, this The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod seems to feature a relatively fleshed-out PvP mode. The earliest moments of the gameplay video are the most telling, highlighting a matchmaking system, maps, and loadout selections. Is it exactly what Naughty Dog may have had planned for The Last of Us Online? Probably not, and it’s only coming to PC for now, but it might just help fill the hole in players’ hearts.
Those itching for a multiplayer spin on a classic post-apocalyptic story might also find some hints of what’s to come on Speclizer’s X/Twitter account. In the months since development began, they’ve regularly posted updates on their progress.
One June 13 video, for example, features footage of school, Seattle, and gas station maps. A May update showed how their first 1v1 match played out. Other videos also show that the modder has seemingly toyed with the idea of including other playable characters (like Dina) and costumes (like Ellie’s spacesuit).
It’s hard to say what will end up in the mod as Speclizer continues chipping away at it. For now, it at least looks like The Last of Us fans looking to revisit Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed gameplay might have something to keep them occupied this September.
The PlayStation studio canceled its long-gestating multiplayer off-shoot in late 2023, promising to shift its focus to single-player games going forward. Its last all-new story, The Last of Us Part 2, launched almost exactly six years ago in June 2020. Its next, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, remains without a release date.
“In ramping up to full production, the massive scope of our ambition became clear,” Naughty Dog said at the time of The Last of Us Online’s cancelation. “To release and support The Last of Us Online we’d have to put all our studio resources behind supporting post launch content for years to come, severely impacting development on future single-player games. So, we had two paths in front of us: become a solely live service games studio or continue to focus on single-player narrative games that have defined Naughty Dog’s heritage.”
While Speclizer works to fill the void, we may never know what the PlayStation studio had planned for its evolution on the multiplayer ‘Factions’ mode delivered with the original The Last of Us. Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida said last year that the version of the game he was aware of was “great.” Vinit Agarwal, who at one time served as director for The Last of Us Part 2’s multiplayer spin-off, said earlier this year that it was nearly 80% complete at the time of its cancelation.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
