The Last of Us Petition Already Has Hundreds of Supporters
A dedicated The Last of Us fan has launched a petition urging developer Naughty Dog, Sony, and key stakeholders to revive the canceled multiplayer spin-off—commonly referred to by fans as Factions 2. Originally conceived as a multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part II, the project evolved into a standalone online title before being officially canceled in 2023.
In 2023, Naughty Dog faced a strategic crossroads shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The studio had to choose between dividing its resources across two major initiatives—The Last of Us Online and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet—or committing fully to one. It ultimately prioritized Intergalactic and terminated development on the multiplayer spin-off. Despite this decision, a significant and vocal segment of the fanbase is now calling for a reversal.
Created by Kristopher McCabe, the Change.org petition titled "Release The Last of Us Online" has already garnered hundreds of signatures—with support continuing to grow. As stated in the petition: “For over six years, fans have persistently requested updates or a sequel to Factions—whether as a patch for The Last of Us Part I or Part II, or as a live-service experience managed by a studio independent of Naughty Dog.” Fans are now urging leadership to “fulfill their 2020 promise and release the next chapter of Factions online.”
Why Fans Think Now Is the Best Time to Revive the Game
According to the petition’s creator, “Third-person PvE and PvP multiplayer shooters have demonstrated sustained commercial success and audience engagement—providing strong evidence that a modernized, expanded iteration of Factions would resonate with players.” Another catalyst for renewed momentum may stem from recent remarks by Vinit Agarwal, the former director of the canceled project.
Agarwal recently revealed that The Last of Us Online was approximately 80% complete when executives halted development. He also noted that many internal developers who tested early builds described it as “the best multiplayer game they had ever played.” Such high-level internal praise—coupled with the project’s near-completion status—has intensified fan frustration and strengthened calls for its official release.
The Future of The Last of Us Online Is a Mystery
It remains uncertain how many signatures the petition will ultimately attract—or whether it will meaningfully influence executive decision-making. While fan-driven petitions have successfully prompted responses from major publishers in the past, Naughty Dog’s current development pipeline—including active work on Intergalactic and an undisclosed project—makes an abrupt revival of the shelved multiplayer title appear unlikely.
That said, there are subtle indications of potential future developments. Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us series, recently shared a cryptic statement about the franchise’s roadmap, noting that “there are still a few stops on the road.” Though he did not specify titles, many fans interpret this as a possible allusion to The Last of Us Part III—or, alternatively, the return of Factions in some form.
