We're still reeling from the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, Naughty Dog's ambitious, mysterious multiplayer effort, with news breaking ahead of the weekend that ended months of speculation. Now, an image a notorious leakster just had lying around might serve as either a salve, or to exacerbate the situation further.
Dusk Golem posted a personalised picture of what is purportedly the game's main menu screen to ResetEra, replete with all the live service accoutrements we've come to expect in this modern age of gaming, and it quickly began circulating on social media. Rotating seasons of content, a battle pass, a premium store, all things we've seen before, but wearing the skin of The Last of Us.
It makes the reality of what both Sony and Naughty Dog were getting involved in, swimming with sharks like Fortnite and Call of Duty, feel starker in contrast. How was a studio known for cinematic, single-player excellence ever going to keep up and satisfy a mainstream audience that expects meaningful new content, and quickly? Factions, The Last of Us 2013's multiplayer offering was a long time ago, folks; expectations are vastly different these days.