Multiplayer games are losing their appeal as evidenced by the cancellation of The Last Of Us Online.

The reader's concern that traditional multiplayer modes are being replaced by live service games has been met with a surprisingly positive reception after the cancellation of The Last Of Us Online. However, I'm not so sure the reaction would be the same if the game was Factions 2. I'm worried for the future of multiplayer games in general, and I'm going to explain why.

Live service titles are designed to monetise and fuel engagement, which is why some studios like Bungie charge full price for their games. The pressure is even higher for them, and it can have dire consequences. Sea Of Thieves is a good example of this - it was bare bones at launch but now has a much better approach to extra content.

But often, live service titles lack the necessary content at launch. We've seen with Halo Infinite that it's taken a while for the game to become popular, and it's tempting to think that a longer development time would be the answer. However, I don't think that's true.

When I look back at the multiplayer games I've enjoyed over the years, I didn't tire of playing the same maps on Call Of Duty 2. I didn't need new skins every season - the game was engaging enough. Warzone was the same during lockdown - I didn't need anything to blow up the stadium to keep me entertained.

Factions was the multiplayer mode for The Last Of Us, and it was a fun game. It didn't need to go down the live service route to be successful. I think a lot of people wanted Factions 2, and the statement from Naughty Dog on Twitter was exaggerated and disabling comments was spineless.

My point is, the pressure to fuel engagement with new content shouldn't apply to all multiplayer games. Not every game needs to be like Fortnite. If developers can create a good, fun multiplayer game, then the rest should fall into place.

I understand some gamers are accepting of Naughty Dog's explanation, but I'm still not sure about their honesty. I hope they reconsider what they've created and release it as a traditional multiplayer game. Developers need to be clear with their target audience and offer realistic expectations. If they can do that, then multiplayer games don't have to die out.

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