It Looks Like The Last Of Us Battle Royale Multiplayer Is Nearly Here
Although we'd once given up on the idea of a multiplayer for Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part 2, the rumours have been rife that we'll be revisiting the 2020 title in a big way. We always thought Ellie's adventure wasn't over yet, and hopefully, it isn't.
When the original The Last of Us first came to the PlayStation back in 2013, the online multiplayer known as Factions was a big hit. Picking between playing as either the Fireflies or Hunters, Factions revamped some of the game's best maps across three modes. It was all pretty standard fodder, but nine years later, it's clear things have to change.
What's The Latest With The Last Of Us Battle Royale?
Posting on Twitter, @Speclizer shared some hidden datafiles that pretty much confirm some sort of battle royale for The Last of Us Part 2. It's something we've heard about time and time again from supposed insiders, so it's nice to actually have some evidence this time around.
The files refer to a final circle - which is a common feature among battle royale games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone. Interestingly, there's also a mention of sidekicks, which suggests the divisive feature from Uncharted 4's multiplayer will be back with a vengeance. Back then, NPCs could be bought to assist your team.
It's important to point out that these datafiles could've been canned, but with so much mention of Part 2 multiplayer in recent weeks - and the fact Naughty Dog has confirmed it's working on multiple titles - we'd be surprised if a Part 2 multiplayer didn't come alongside a long-rumoured remaster of the OG game. Remember, we've also seen Ellie's character models from a supposed Part 2 multiplayer that many assumed had been lost to the ages.
Should The Last Of Us Part 2 Add Battle Royale?
Discussing the possibility of a battle royale Factions and return of sidekicks, fandom was split. One critic moaned, "Really tired of battle Royale modes, but I’m sure there’ll be other modes." Someone else added, "NPCs will definitely be a part of Factions 2, not sure if I like the idea of sidekicks tho, hated it in Uncharted 4 MP." In the supporters camp, one player gushed, "I am so excited for this, I know some people will not like battle royale but there will probably still be the OG modes as well." Another cheered, "I actually think a BR mode would be perfect in the TLOU world."
In a world that's saturated with the battle royale, we've already seen Halo Infinite dodge around this poisoned chalice. Alongside those complaining the new-gen title hasn't delivered a full-blown BR experience, others have slammed Last Spartan Standing as a battle royale-lite cop-out. In the years since The Last of Us Part 2 was released, we've missed its multiplayer, but then again, we find ourselves asking... why now?