The Last of Us studio Naughty Dog may have cancelled its in-development multiplayer sequel, but one fan mod is going to give us the next best thing.
The Last of Us’ Factions mode was one of the most popular aspects of the original game, allowing players to spend a little more time in that world after the credits rolled.
It was never brought back for The Last of Us Part II, with Naughty Dog instead opting to create a standalone The Last of Us multiplayer experience. However, the project was cancelled in 2023 due to it taking away too many resources from the company’s other games in development.
It’s a shame, really, considering The Last of Us Part II had some killer action gameplay that would have worked well in a multiplayer environment.
We even got some glimpses of how it might have worked with The Last of Us Part II Remastered’s standout No Return mode.
The Last Of Us Part II Multiplayer Mod Shows Promise
Nevertheless, one fan has sought to create a brand new multiplayer experience within The Last of Us Part II, bringing co-operative and competitive gameplay to the game’s massive campaign.
As shared by The Last of Us modder Speclizer on X (formerly Twitter), who has created various mods for the games in the past, multiplayer is now possible in The Last of Us Part II.
The project is a work in progress, and Speclizer makes sure to mention that this is just a “test” right now.
Our first test of our multiplayer mod for The Last of Us 2 on PC, very broken and not a lot has been implemented yet.#TheLastofUsPartII #Factions pic.twitter.com/mTwLSjhDV8
— Speclizer (@Speclizer_) January 10, 2026
The video they shared shows off a small segment of gameplay during the Seattle Day 1 chapter, with two Ellies seemingly moving around together and sharing the same playable space.
It is implied that the gameplay test might be co-operative, where eventually a mod might allow you to complete the game’s story mode with another player in tow. However, Speclizer says that involving NPCs “makes things a lot harder,” and that player-versus-player would be the end goal of a potential multiplayer mod.
Obviously, this also depends on whether Speclizer can get a fully functional multiplayer mode completed. The video is just a small test, and there could be plenty of roadblocks in the future that may prevent a proper competitive multiplayer mode from being added to the game. But we’re rooting for you!
Still, it’s wild to think that we even got this far. The Last of Us Part II is solely a single-player game, and so getting multiplayer and online connectivity between two players is a massive feat in itself.
We’ll keep an eye on Speclizer’s progress with this project in case there are any more developments, and with luck we could one day be playing a multiplayer version of The Last of Us Part II.
It’s exciting to see the emergence of gameplay from the multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part 2! It’s great to witness the community’s creativity and passion for the game, even after the official cancellation. Looking forward to seeing how this develops!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating to witness the community’s creativity in bringing this mod to life! It’s also interesting how the multiplayer aspect could expand the storytelling possibilities in such a rich narrative world.
I completely agree! It’s impressive how dedicated fans can keep the spirit of a game alive, especially when the original developers had to pivot. This mod not only showcases the community’s talent but also highlights the game’s rich world that players are eager to explore further.
Absolutely! It’s amazing to see the creativity and passion of the community in bringing new life to such a beloved franchise. These fan-made mods often introduce fresh gameplay elements that can enhance the overall experience, showcasing the game’s depth even further.