The original Last of Us game launched with a well-received multiplayer mode called Factions, and many were expecting to see it return in The Last of Us 2. However, The Last of Us 2 launched as a completely single-player experience, and fans still have yet to see its rumored multiplayer mode in action. While fans wait for more information on The Last of Us 2's multiplayer mode, a leaker has potentially found evidence that points to a battle royale mode.
Modder Speclizer has pulled files from The Last of Us 2 that hint at a battle royale mode could be in the works for the game. The strings make reference to words commonly associated with the battle royale genre and outright include "battle royale," though it must be stressed that this does not mean that a BR mode will actually make its way into the game. In fact, there have been rumors to suggest that while The Last of Us 2 multiplayer was going to feature a battle royale at some point that plans have changed. Really it's anyone's guess until Naughty Dog decides to properly reveal the game.
The Last of Us 2 multiplayer is rumored to be a standalone experience at this point, so perhaps Naughty Dog's ambitions for the project have grown since its initial conception. All fans can do for now is speculate and wait for official information.
The Last of Us 2 multiplayer isn't the only project that Naughty Dog is working on. Reports have indicated that a full-blown Last of Us remake is in development for the PlayStation 5, and others claim that the studio is also working on a brand-new, original IP. Naughty Dog itself has not revealed any of its future projects yet, though, so fans will need to stand by for more on that front.
If Naughty Dog does plan on revealing its next game soon, one has to wonder when exactly such a reveal would take place. Not only is E3 2022 canceled, but Sony hasn't bothered to participate in the event for years anyway. It also seems unlikely that such a high profile reveal would happen at Summer Game Fest either. The most likely scenario is that Sony will be pulling the curtain back on Naughty Dog's next game during one of its PlayStation State of Play presentations, but it's unclear when exactly the next one of those will take place.
The Last of Us 2 is out now for PS4.
Source: ComicBook