Naughty Dog's 'The Last of Us Online' Was Canceled After Bungie Advised on Live Service Challenges

Former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida revealed the game was promising but scrapped in 2023 to prioritize single-player projects.

Shuhei Yoshida, former head of PlayStation Studios, disclosed that he played 'The Last of Us Online' and found it to be a great experience.
The game, also known as 'Factions,' was canceled in 2023 after Bungie advised Naughty Dog on the extensive effort required for live service game development.
Naughty Dog chose to focus on single-player projects, including 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,' rather than pursuing the live service model.
Yoshida clarified that PlayStation Studios are not forced to develop live service games, though aligning with company initiatives can increase project approval chances.
PlayStation has significantly reduced its live service game slate, with only a few titles like Bungie's 'Marathon' and Haven Studio's 'Fairgame$' still in development.