The multiplayer spin-off linked to the enduringly popular Last of Us franchise is not canceled, but it remains in a prolonged, near‑standstill phase described as a virtual freeze by industry insiders. Sources say the project has been paused without a definite resumption date, leaving fans and stakeholders in limbo as momentum slows. In tandem with the pause, Naughty Dog reportedly reduced its non‑staff workforce, affecting contractors and temporary personnel tied to the game’s production pipeline.
According to the reported information, roughly 25 contractors received notices indicating their contracts would end by the close of October. Roles affected spanned art, production, quality control, and several other departments essential to continuing development. The outlets describe the process as quiet, with personnel told not to discuss the situation publicly, which has limited visibility into the full scope of the disruption.
At the time of the reports, there had been no official confirmation or formal statement from Naughty Dog about the current status of the Last of Us multiplayer project, its outages, or the broader development trajectory. The absence of formal communication has fed speculation within the gaming community and among industry observers who track project lifecycles for major franchises.
Earlier in the spring of 2023, news emerged about delays to online play for The Last of Us. Subsequent updates from the studio indicated ongoing development, with the spin‑off originally envisioned as a continuously updated service title. Those plans were later revised, signaling a strategic shift in how the project would be delivered and supported over time, though concrete milestones remained unclear to the public.
In related news, other studios have experimented with rapid demo releases to gauge responses to new gameplay concepts. For instance, the Sobaka studio introduced a demonstration version of a project called Kiborg, which centers on a rebellious character named Vasily. This example illustrates how different teams approach early previews and user feedback during periods of transition or pause in larger franchise efforts.