The Last of Us Multiplayer Replacement Mod Shut Down By PlayStation

PlayStation has shut down a mod that would have finally brought multiplayer to The Last of Us Part 2. The original game had a cult-hit multiplayer mode called Factions, and after Part 2 released with only its single-player story, hopes for the series' multiplayer feel to The Last of Us Online, which was sadly canceled in 2023.

Well after The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered brought the sequel to PC, fans took it upon themselves to create a follow-up to Factions. A multiplayer mod for TLOU Part 2 had been in development since January 2026, and was scheduled to release this September. It brought new gameplay features to the game, like perks, and had custom maps, but it will now never become playable.

The Last of Us Mod Creator Cancels Release at Request of PlayStation

The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod creator Speclizer has canceled its release after they "recently received a letter on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment" that requested the mod's imminent release be canceled. The modder will now be moving onto a new, original project.

While the post does not detail PlayStation's specific grievances with the mod, the issues likely stemmed from the creator profiting from the mod, a problem that affects many such projects. TLOU 2 multiplayer mod was "partially funded via Patreon," according to VGC. Many developers and publishers tend to look the other way when it comes to tips for mod creators, but access to Speclizer's TLOU 2 mods was locked behind a Patreon subscription.

In-progress footage of the mod looked impressive, especially for the short development time. From what was shown, it was essentially Factions, but with the added gameplay features of Part 2, such as the ability to go prone. Just like in Factions, each team had a set number of lives, with players able to sneak around the map, collecting supplies to craft additional items.

TLOU Remains Without Multiplayer as Naughty Dog Focuses on Intergalactic

While The Last of Us's influential narrative has remained its strongest legacy, even earning itself an HBO adaptation, Factions fans have consistently yearned for the unique multiplayer to return. The Last of Us Online, a standalone follow-up with a larger scope, had been teased numerous times before Naughty Dog decided to scuttle the project. The resources required to support it post-launch were deemed to be too demanding.

TLOU Online's cancellation is, however, just one facet of Naughty Dog being almost entirely absent from the PlayStation 5 generation. The studio has only released remakes and remasters on Sony's latest system: Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves, The Last of Us Part 1, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

Naughty Dog has been hard at work on new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which was revealed in late 2024 and has yet to receive a second trailer. The Last of Us is itself on ice, with only rumors of a third part regularly swirling, let alone any new attempt at an official multiplayer mode. It's not exactly surprising to see PlayStation protective of its franchises, but it's disappointing to see such a promising The Last of Us multiplayer mod canceled.

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