Summary
As the industry leans harder and harder into live-service models for its games, going from prevalent to prerequisite, it is all but assured that Naughty Dog’s upcoming multiplayerThe Last of Usgame will keep pace with the growing trend. Blizzard’s recent release ofDiablo 4, the most recent example of a AAA live-service title, should be the touchstone for the upcomingThe Last of Ustitle, as Naughty Dog cribs its successes and dodges its failures.
Very little concrete information is available for Naughty Dog’s upcomingstandaloneThe Last of Usmultiplayer title. Neil Druckmann has divulged the game’s priority on storytelling, with a cohesive narrative assured despite being a multiplayer game. Speculation places its gameplay loop as being in the same vein as open-world survival titles and extraction shooters, though that is based on inference from source material and current trends in gaming, rather than any official revealed information from Naughty Dog.
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The Pitfalls of Live-Service Are Etched Clearly in Diablo 4’s First Season
Diablo 4launched to rave reviews and a glowing outlook for its future prospects as a game that players will be coming back to for years to come. As a studio that has been a trailblazer for live-service models, many felt the positive outlook forDiablo 4was a safe bet. However, the release of its first season has shown cracks in its design, with many finding themselves at odds with Blizzard’s philosophy in balance and monetization. The studio is now in damage-control mode, trying to calm the tide of players leaving the game, doubling back on poorly received decisions, andsetting the stage for what will hopefully be a less maligned season two.
WhetherDiablo 4will ultimately be a high watermark or a cautionary tale is yet to be determined, but regardless, Naughty Dog can learn a lot from the wayDiablo 4is shaping up for its own upcoming live-service game. Other titles likeFortniteandDestiny 2have mastered the art of the battle pass, and if it is a system that Naughty Dog will seek to implement, looking at the disparity between the former mentioned andDiablo 4’s comparatively pitiful offeringwill be crucial.
Aspects of Diablo 4’s Model Will Work Well in The Last of Us
Not everything is doom and gloom for the prospects ofDiablo 4’s future, though, with plenty of positive elements that Naughty Dog can pull inspiration from for itsupcomingThe Last of Usgame. The rigid scheduling of seasons is a boon for the longevity of live-service titles, which solves the issue of players returning to its ecosystem feeling like they have fallen too far behind. The soft reset every three months ensures that no matter when a player picks up or returns to the game, they will be at a decently even degree of familiarity.
While there is worry regarding the double-dipping of Blizzard with an in-game shop andbattle pass for cosmetics inDiablo 4, it cannot be argued that the game currently has a wealth of cosmetic options that are indeed fun for some fans to peruse. That impressive variety in aesthetic personalization goes a long way in keeping players engaged. If Naughty Dog wants its own live-service game to thrive, a constant and eclectic stream of cosmetic options could be key. Of course, what always matters most is gameplay, and Naughty Dog will need to have that front covered.
The Last of Us' multiplayer game is currently in development.
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