The new multiplayer project for The Last of Us Part 2 will reportedly be free-to-play. Recently, TLOU2 has been somewhat overshadowed by the PS5 Last of Us Part 1 remake, which has received a warm reception for the many improvements it made to the original entry. In comparison, The Last of Us Part 2 received a wide array of reactions from fans, with many bemoaning the lack of multiplayer.The Last of Us series is undoubtedly one of the most critically-acclaimed series to come out of the 2010s, telling an emotional story while providing thrilling gameplay against the world’s infected enemies as well as other hostile survivors. While The Last of Us 2 is only a single-player game, a new multiplayer experience is currently in development at Naughty Dog as a standalone new title. It was previously reported that TLOU2 multiplayer will have microtransactions, leading many to speculate the game could be a free-to-play title.Related: First Image From TLOU2 Multiplayer Teases Action-Packed WorldA new job listing from Naughty Dog has seemingly confirmed that The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer game will be a free-to-play title, Insider Gaming reports. The news details that a new job listing for a Live Ops Producer lists “proven experience in a production role supporting a AAA, free to play, live title” under the “Bonus Skills” section of the post. While the listing doesn’t explicitly state it’s for work on TLOU2‘s multiplayer title, there aren’t any announced projects apart from The Last of Us‘ multiplayer that would fit that model.
The Last Of Us 2 Multiplayer Going Free-To-Play Wouldn’t Be A Surprise
As soon as microtransactions were rumored, most players assumed the multiplayer version of TLOU2 would be free-to-play – and with good reason. Although there are paid games that feature microtransactions, a large percentage of titles that include in-game purchases are free-to-play titles, with more and more premium service games adopting the model – most recently Overwatch 2. Without the initial payment barrier, free-to-play titles can attract a wider audience, and thus increase the chance of players investing in microtransactions.
While it’s important to remember that The Last of Us Part 2‘s multiplayer game hasn’t officially been confirmed as free-to-play, essentially all the signs point in that direction, which will surely elicit some less-than-favorable reactions from many players. The exact way microtransactions in the game will work is currently unknown, and this will ultimately determine a lot about its quality. One of the most widespread problems with microtransactions is when they impact a player’s ability to perform well in a game, locking better items behind a paywall, whereas those that tend to perform better have microtransactions for cosmetics alone. For now, players will have to wait for Naughty Dog to reveal more information about The Last of Us Part 2‘s multiplayer, with only concept art having been shown thus far.
