Back in June, we learned about a Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod being made for the PC version of the game, one that would essentially bring back the Factions multiplayer mode the way fans wanted. Unfortunately, Sony also caught wind of the mod, and ultimately sent a cease and desist to the creator.

The mod was revealed back in June with a 25-minute gameplay video. Fans quickly took notice and began eagerly awaiting the planned September release. However, due to the mod going viral, Sony became aware of the project. The creator, Specializer, confirmed they received “a letter on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment” and will no longer be releasing the mod.

“Hey everyone, as you all know, the TLOU 2 Multiplayer mod that has been in development since January was supposed to release this month. Unfortunately I recently received a letter on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment requesting for the mod not to be released”, they wrote. “Extremely sad that this never got to see the light of day but I hope you'll continue to follow me onto the next project, this time something of my own. Thank you all for the incredible amount of support over the last year. I hope to bring you something bigger and better soon!”

Sony isn't the only game publisher to shut down a mod and it won't be the last. It would have been fun to see Factions return in some form, especially now that it is clear Naughty Dog won't be doing it themselves. However, Sony is also within its rights here, and it may well return to the idea of an official Last of Us multiplayer game in the future.

KitGuru Says: This mod was doing the rounds all over social media over the summer, so it isn't a surprise that Sony noticed. 

The Last of Us Online, otherwise known as Factions, was one of the casualties of Sony, and perhaps more accurately, Jim Ryan's push for PlayStation to churn out ten live service games to try and find something that would stick and become a new cash-cow for the company. Like most of those projects, The Last of Us Online was ultimately cancelled, but according to former game director Vinit Agarwal, the game was incredibly close to getting out the door before it was shuttered. Speaking on the Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo, Agarwal digs into different periods of his career, […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/the-last-of-us-online-was-80-percent-complete-when-it-was-cancelled-vinit-agarwal/