The Last of Us multiplayer game aims to be free-to-play

A job offer hints at the possibility of The Last of Us Part 2's standalone multiplayer running on a free-to-play model.

The title was presented during Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest 2022 gala, being the big surprise of the event after The Last of Us Part 1 trailer was leaked ahead of time. The multiplayer was presented by Neil Druckmann, who took the stage to provide an informative update on the studio's projects, among which was this multiplayer experience.

"We’re looking for a Live Ops Producer to support our major new multiplayer title," reads the offer. "We are looking for the right candidate to get in early and help define the processes, requirements, and infrastructure that will support the project through launch and beyond."

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Experience in free-to-play games

If it really is about the multiplayer of The Last of Us, it is striking that the offer mentions that the candidate must "get in early," taking into account that the game has been in development for years. According to Druckmann, Naughty Dog will announce news about it next year, so in 2023 we will know more concrete details.

Among the responsibilities required is the need to draw up roadmaps and schedules, in addition to ensuring that the team follows the guidelines to accomplish the goals. The term free-to-play is mentioned at the end, under additional skills. They suggest that it wouldn't hurt if the candidate had "Proven experience in a production role supporting a AAA, free to play, live title”.

The Last of Us multiplayer still has no confirmed release date. According to the head of PlayStation Studios, PS4 and PS5 games will take at least a year to be released on PC... except for games as a service, which may be released simultaneously on console and PC.

Source | Naughty Dog