“The Last of Us Part 2” will not receive an unofficial PC multiplayer mode after all. Renowned modder Speclizer has stopped development of his fan project following a reported letter from Sony Interactive Entertainment that ordered him not to release the mod. Fans had been eagerly awaiting the September launch of the project, which had been in development since January.
Sony has not provided a detailed explanation for its intervention, and the letter remains unpublished. Speclizer has confirmed he will honor the request and will not release the project.
What began as a small experiment had grown into a full 4-on-4 multiplayer mode.
The mod began earlier this year as a small experiment to see whether the PC version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered could support multiplayer matches. Over the past few months, the project grew in scope.
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Earlier videos showcased a dedicated multiplayer menu, matchmaking, loadouts, and several maps inspired by campaign locations. The team eventually hosted full 4-on-4 matches, making the mod resemble—at least structurally—the original Factions mode from the first The Last of Us.
Perks, maps, and a limited eavesdropping mode were planned
The goal wasn’t just to let eight players compete on an existing map. The mod already featured its own gameplay systems, including perks, equipment configurations, and a limited Listen Mode. Leaderboards and several new multiplayer maps were also in development.
Seraphite Forest and Houses were among the showcased locations. Part of the development was funded through Speclizer’s Patreon community, so the cancellation will likely disappoint supporters. The project had grown far beyond a technical demo and was nearing a public playable release.
Sony Demands Complete Discontinuation
On September 14, Speclizer announced that the project was canceled. He had recently received a letter from Sony Interactive Entertainment asking him not to release the mod. The developer called the outcome extremely disappointing and said he would focus on his own idea for his next project.
As a result, no future release is currently planned. Sony Interactive Entertainment has not commented publicly on the decision, so the specific legal concern remains unconfirmed. Possible issues could include copyright, trademarks, assets used, or commercial support for the project.
Particularly curious following the end of *The Last of Us Online*
The situation carries an additional layer of irony. Naughty Dog had originally developed a major multiplayer project set in The Last of Us universe. The multiplayer plans for The Last of Us Part II eventually evolved into a standalone game titled The Last of Us Online. However, the project was canceled in December 2023.
Naughty Dog explained that ongoing support for such a large live-service title would have consumed nearly all of the studio’s resources, forcing it to choose between becoming a live-service studio or sticking with the single-player games that built its reputation. The team chose the latter path.
Fans had hoped the mod would serve as a substitute.
That’s exactly why Speclizer’s project received an unusual amount of attention. The original Factions mode from the first *The Last of Us* still has a loyal fan base. *The Last of Us Part II*, on the other hand, was released without multiplayer. After the end of *The Last of Us Online*, it finally looked as though there wouldn’t be any new multiplayer for the series in the foreseeable future.
The fan mod would have at least given PC players an unofficial alternative. It would not have matched Naughty Dog’s full standalone title, but the released material already showcased a functioning framework and classic competitive matches.
Just short of the finish line, the project is now dead.
The timing is particularly frustrating for the team. Development had been underway since January 2026, and a public release was already scheduled for September. Instead of launching the mod after months of work, Speclizer will now abandon the project entirely. This marks the second multiplayer project based on The Last of Us to be canceled before its release in just a few years.
This time, however, there’s a crucial difference: Naughty Dog’s own project was canceled for internal strategic reasons. The fan mod, on the other hand, is being shut down at the express request of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Why Sony intervened just before the planned release remains unclear at this time. Source: X Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
