The Last of Us Mobile Collaboration with Tencent Explored in Legal Filing
The Last of Us remains one of PlayStation’s most prestigious franchises, having appeared exclusively on consoles and PC to date. However, a newly filed court document reveals that Sony Interactive Entertainment had explored the possibility of developing a mobile game for the post-apocalyptic series in partnership with Tencent.
Sony’s Mobile Leadership Confirms Strategic Discussions
Olivier Courtemanche, Head of Mobile at PlayStation Studios, submitted a sworn declaration as part of Sony’s ongoing lawsuit against Tencent. While the filing primarily centers on Tencent and its affiliated studio Aurora Studios’ development of Light of Motiram, Courtemanche disclosed that his team traveled to Shenzhen, China, in July 2024 to discuss multiple partnership opportunities—including a potential collaboration on The Last of Us.
Details of the Meeting and Subsequent Clarifications
Courtemanche stated: “I traveled with members of my team to Shenzhen, China, in July 2024 to discuss a variety of partnership opportunities with Tencent and its game studios, including Aurora Studios. With respect to Aurora Studios, we went into the meeting under the impression that they wanted to do a potential collaboration for The Last of Us.”
No further specifics about the proposed Last of Us mobile project were included in the filing. Instead, Courtemanche noted that Aurora Studios presented slides during the meeting referencing a potential Horizon collaboration—an initiative Sony had already formally rejected prior to the meeting.
Broader Context: Naughty Dog’s Evolving Roadmap
In late 2023, Naughty Dog officially canceled its dedicated Last of Us multiplayer title, reaffirming its strategic focus on single-player experiences. Since then, the studio unveiled its new original IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, at The Game Awards in December 2024. Earlier this year, The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann confirmed that the team is also developing a second unannounced project.
Franchise Expansion Beyond Gaming
To date, The Last of Us has not launched a spin-off game or mobile title. Its expansion beyond gaming has been realized through the critically acclaimed and commercially successful HBO television series. For ongoing updates, readers may refer to the latest developments regarding a potential The Last of Us: Part III.
