Last of Us Online Director Vows New Games After Project Cancelled

The Last of Us Online was 80% complete after 7 years of work, but was cancelled by Sony. This is a huge loss of development time and resources.
By Newsroom | Gaming, Video Games |

Shocking Cancellation of Near-Complete Project Sparks New Resolve

Vinit Agarwal, former game director for the scrapped The Last of Us Online, has publicly stated he "will never let what I work on not see the light of day again." Agarwal revealed he learned of the project's cancellation only 24 hours before the public announcement, a move that deeply impacted him. The game was reportedly 80% complete after seven years of development.

Agarwal's declaration follows renewed attention on the canceled multiplayer game, with former colleagues continuing to describe the project as "amazing." The abrupt end to The Last of Us Online has prompted Agarwal to leave Naughty Dog and establish his own studio in Tokyo, aiming for greater creative freedom in future projects.

A Game Lost: Development and Discovery

The decision to cancel The Last of Us Online reportedly came as Sony shifted its focus, weighing options between becoming a dedicated live-service game studio or maintaining its established tradition of single-player narrative experiences. Agarwal himself noted that while disappointed, Naughty Dog and its president, Neil Druckmann, may not have had significant choice in the matter. The cancellation is framed as a deeply personal and shocking event for the director.

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Sources indicate the game's development timeline was also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a choice needing to be made between two distinct paths for the studio. Agarwal has drawn parallels between his feelings during the cancellation and an in-game scenario where players are unable to find their friends, highlighting the emotional weight of the lost project.

The Unseen Potential

Despite its cancellation, The Last of Us Online is being discussed as precisely the kind of live-service multiplayer game PlayStation has been pursuing throughout the current generation. Its reported 80% completion suggests a significant investment and a substantial amount of work that will now never reach players. The former director's comments lend a distinctly human perspective to the business decisions that led to the project's shelving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was The Last of Us Online cancelled?
Sony decided to change its focus, choosing between making live-service games or sticking to single-player story games. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected development choices.
Q: How complete was The Last of Us Online?
The game was reported to be 80% finished after seven years of development.
Q: What will the former director of The Last of Us Online do next?
The former director, Vinit Agarwal, has left Naughty Dog and started his own game studio in Tokyo to have more freedom in making future games.
Q: How did the director feel about the cancellation?
Vinit Agarwal was deeply affected by the cancellation, learning about it only 24 hours before the public announcement. He vowed to ensure his future projects are released.
Q: Why is The Last of Us Online being talked about now?
People are discussing the cancelled game because it was the type of live-service multiplayer game that PlayStation wanted to make. The director's comments have also brought renewed attention to the project.