Naughty Dog’s standalone online multiplayer game, which was cancelled in late 2023, was the focus of the “majority of the studio” before it was axed.

In a new video, Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier reveals the anticipated Factions sequel was not a side hustle, and had the attention of the vast majority of the California team.

Focus only switched to new game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet once the multiplayer title was cancelled.

He said:

“A lot of people were working on that game. I think there's a belief out there that The Last of Us Online was just kind of a side project while most people were working on Intergalactic. No, the opposite is true.

Intergalactic did not have the majority of staff until after The Last of Us Online was cancelled. And then most people in the studio came over to work on Intergalactic.

Many people in the studio – I would say the majority of the studio – was working on either The Last of Us Online or the remakes that they were doing throughout the 2020s, which is why we haven't seen a brand new game from them since 2020.”

As mentioned by Schreier, Naughty Dog did release a remake of The Last of Us and a remaster of The Last of Us 2 for the PS5, as well as remasters of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

But it hasn’t actually shipped a new game for Sony’s current console yet, with Intergalactic finally expected next year.

Frankly, it’s been a waste of a generation for PlayStation’s most decorated dev.

[source youtube.com]