Summary
Earlier this year, it seemed like Sony was going to drastically change its approach to gaming by adopting the live-service genre. The publisher had plans to bring some of its biggest franchises to the genre over the next couple of years, with hopes that it could launch 10 titles by March 2026. However, recent events have put this new direction in doubt. Not only are players growing disinterested in the live-service model, but Naughty Dog has also announced the cancelation ofThe Last of Us' online title after nearly four years of development.
While not a lot is known aboutThe Last of Us Online, it was set to be a major live-service title from Sony. Turning the critically acclaimed single-player franchise’s multiplayer mode into a full-fledged title seemed like an interesting idea, but now it will never see the light of day. Couple that with the fact that Sony has also delayed much of its live-service plans, and this future may never come to fruition. It may be too early to say that Sony’s live-service plans are dead. However, there are definitely some troubling signs.
Sony’s Live-Service Future May Not Be in the Cards Anymore
Sony Was Already Facing Issues With Its Live-Service Commitment
Due to thesuccess of games likeGTA OnlineandFortnite, many of the biggest video game developers want a slice of the market. That is why Sony acquired Bungie in 2022 and why it was hoping to go all in on the genre. Through its many studios, it wanted to bring some of its biggest franchises to the live-service space while also crafting brand-new ones that players would sink hours into. In total, it had around 12 in various stages of production, with hopes that at least 10 could be released by March 2026.
While that may have sounded exciting at one point, these plans seem to be drastically changing. On top of that,the live-service genre has become increasingly controversialthroughout the year, with some players turning their backs on any game that tries to capture that audience.
The live-service genre has also seen a plethora of closures in 2023 alone, partly because there are just too many of them. This year, games likeApex Legends Mobile,Battlefield Mobile,Rumbleverse, andKnockout Cityhave been forced to shut their doors. Not a month seems to go by without another major closure, and there will likely be even more as studios continue to adopt this model. Unless the game really offers something special, its days are numbered the minute it releases.
The Last of Us Online May Be a Sign of Things to Come
Earlier this month, it was revealed thatThe Last of Us Onlinehad been canceledafter at least four years of development. This is the first known major cancelation for Sony’s live-service push, and it will likely not be the last. Not only has the genre become increasingly controversial, and the studio has had to dial back its plans, but fans just do not seem that interested to begin with. When a studio specializes in crafting single-player experiences, taking those experiences online does not seem like the best use of resources, especially if it means the studio will then need to drastically shift to only working on live-service efforts thereafter.
While Sony may still be committed totaking over the live-service market, all of these events seemingly put that future in jeopardy. Even if they do eventually release, fans may not even care about them by that point, at least in comparison to their single-player counterparts. The live-service genre as a whole seems to have lost its appeal, and Sony will likely not be the publisher to make players excited about it again. If anything, these releases may just be the final nail in the coffin.
The Last of Us
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey. Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
