A fan-made multiplayer mod for The Last Of Us Part 2 has been cancelled by Sony, but there’s a good reason why.
Between ditching physical PlayStation discs, dropping Hideo Kojima’s Physint, and continuing to push live service games, Sony isn’t exactly on a winning streak as of late.
The company has now attracted criticism among modders, after the creators behind a multiplayer mod for The Last Of Us Part 2 on PC were allegedly handed a letter from Sony asking for them to terminate the project.
In a post on X on Sunday (September 13), the mod’s creator Speclizer wrote: ‘Hey everyone, as you all know, The [Last Of Us Part 2] multiplayer mod that has been in development since January was supposed to release this month. Unfortunately I recently received a letter on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment requesting for the mod not to be released.
‘Extremely sad that this never got to see the light of day but I hope you’ll continue to follow me onto the next project, this time something of my own. Thank you for all the incredible amount of support over the last year. I hope to bring you something bigger and better soon!’
In the comments, many have bemoaned the move as another example of Sony’s ‘terrible decisions’. One X user claimed Sony ‘hate fans’, while another sarcastically wrote: ‘hell yeah Sony this is exactly what’ll save your reputation’. However, from a legal standpoint, this move shouldn’t be surprising.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
The mod, which essentially replicated the Factions multiplayer from The Last Of Us with extra elements using the sequel’s assets, was partially funded by Patreon. As such, it would have clearly grabbed the attention of Sony’s lawyers, as it’s profiting from the company’s IP.
The Last Of Us Part 2 was supposed to launch with a multiplayer mode, but this evolved into a separate standalone title called The Last Of Us Online, which was cancelled in 2023.
At the time, Naughty Dog said it axed The Last Of Us Online because it would have ‘severely’ impacted development on future single-player games. It’s now a part of Sony’s long list of failed live service projects, alongside a God Of War spin-off and Concord.
Naughty Dog is currently working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new single-player sci-fi adventure which is expected to launch next year. The studio hasn’t confirmed if it is working on The Last Of Us Part 3, but series co-creator Neil Druckmann has teased it several times.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.