{"id":1905146,"date":"2026-04-27T12:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T09:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1905146"},"modified":"2026-04-27T12:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T09:18:40","slug":"director-of-the-last-of-us-online-says-former-colleagues-still-tell-him-how-amazing-it-was-going-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1905146","title":{"rendered":"Director of The Last of Us Online Says Former Colleagues Still Tell Him How Amazing It Was Going to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The director of the canceled The Last of Us Online has said former colleagues still message him to say it was \u201cthe best multiplayer game they\u2019ve ever played.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/the-last-of-us-multiplayer-game-cancelled-will-focus-on-single-player-games-going-forward\"><u>Naughty Dog stopped development on The Last of Us Online<\/u><\/a> in December 2023, saying it would have needed to put all its resources into post-launch content for years to come \u2014 an approach that would have severely impacted its ability to develop future single-player games including what we now know is <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/intergalactic-the-heretic-prophet\"><u>Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this month, Vinit Agarwal, who was game director on The Last of Us Online, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/it-killed-me-that-people-couldnt-play-it-director-of-the-last-of-us-online-only-found-out-it-was-cancelled-24-hours-before-the-public-says-it-was-80-complete\"><u>spoke out on the \u201cdevastating\u201d impact of its cancelation<\/u><\/a>, which he said he only found out about 24 hours before Sony made it public.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt\u2019s wild how many of my ex-colleagues still message me today saying how amazing TLOU Online was going to be \u2014 still the best multiplayer game they\u2019ve ever played,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/vinixkun\/status\/2047932214181265713\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Agarwal tweeted over the weekend<\/a>, as spotted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/the-last-of-us-multiplayer-director-game-cancellation-vow\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eurogamer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cNever going to let what I work on not see the light of day again. Thank you all for your support and confidence!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every IGN Naughty Dog Game Review<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1996\/11\/22\/crash-bandicoot&quot;&gt;Reviewed by IGN Staff&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 21, 1996&lt;br&gt;\nCool perspectives aside, Crash really shines when it comes to the graphics. Gorgeous backgrounds and silky smooth animation make this one of the best-looking titles available for the PlayStation. The control is generally pretty good, though it is a little sluggish in some of the levels. Generally, though, Crash is a great game. Sure it can be a tough sometimes, but isn't that what platform games are all about? A must have. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 28 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1997\/11\/05\/crash-bandicoot-2-cortex-strikes-back&quot;&gt;Reviewed by IGN Staff&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 4, 1997&lt;br&gt;\n Crash 2's best asset, though, is the control. Any platform games needs spot on control, and this game definitely has it. The Sony Analog Controller is a must for the game, but I needed to switch back and forth between analog and digital depending on the make-up of the particular level. This, of course, as easy as hitting a button, and is not a slight on the game. The high-res graphics are, of course, beautiful as well.\n\nUltimately, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a splendid game. It's tremendous fun, but it also could've used a little more variety. On to Crash 3!\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1998\/11\/05\/crash-bandicoot-warped&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Randy Nelson&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 4, 1998&lt;br&gt;\n So what if the game may not offer the most innovation I've ever seen from a sequel? It still brings enough freshness (in the form of its semi free-roaming portions and new play mechanics) and refinement to the table to suit my tastes just fine. Not only that, it's an incredibly fun game.\n\nCrash fans, I've got good news: Warped is a winner. Anyone who enjoyed the first two games won't be disappointed, and if you've never played a lick of Crash before, you're in for a serious treat. Highly recommended.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/10\/30\/crash-team-racing&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Doug Perry&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;October 29, 1999&lt;br&gt;\nWell, if you haven't already gotten a sense of what I thought about Crash Team Racing, I'll make myself even clearer. I feel a little like Crash and Lara Croft have something in common, which is that I've seen too much of them in the last four years. I know it's terrible to say, but I'm kinda of sick of Crash Bandicoot, and I could take a big long vacation from him and his comical dance for a long while. It took me a long time to get into this game because every time I look at Crash can see dollar signs blinking in his eyes. Once I got past that major obstacle, I faced the game's all too familiar feel and structure, which depressed me. Finally, after getting about 50% into the game, through sheer force, I started liking it.\n\nBut most folks have only a few choices come the winter the winter holidays. So, here's the bottom line, all cynicism aside. Like I said in the beginning, once you get past the insanely capitalistic smile of Crash, the game is rock solid in playability and graphics. Hell! It's a four-player kart game that's on the PlayStation. Isn't that enough? I mean, not only that, but none of the problems of the other kart games even exist in this one. So what's all the fuss about? If you want a pure party game -- and the best kart game on PlayStation or Nintendo, for that matter -- get Crash Team Racing. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2001\/12\/05\/jak-and-daxter-the-precursor-legacy&quot;&gt;Reviewed by David Zdyrko&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;December 4, 2001&lt;br&gt;\nIt's kind of funny thinking back to the day that we were heading down to Sony to play Jak and Daxter for the very first time. On the way, we were talking about how we've all grown tired of the 3D platformer genre and thought that the design philosophy of continuously collecting stuff had been done to death and needed to be done away with completely. And then upon seeing that Jak and Daxter was just another straightforward game of this kind, albeit a gorgeous one, we couldn't help but be at least somewhat disappointed by Naughty Dog's mystery game.\n\nThis disappointment would soon change to wonderment and excitement with each subsequent time that I got to play the game. The more I played Jak and Daxter, the more that I realized that this game was really something special. It has that magical feeling that not all games can possess and it's just flat out a joy to play. This is one of the few games that I can't help but smile and have fun when I'm playing. Jak and Daxter is a true 3D platform\/adventure masterpiece and one of the top games ever released in the genre, easily on par with some of the all time greats released by the likes of Nintendo and Rare. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Agarwal joined Naughty Dog in 2014 and worked on The Last of Us Online for nearly seven years, from 2016 to 2023, when production was shut down. Afterwards, he left Naughty Dog to start up his own game development studio based in Japan.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ezqv1IyLNlQ?si=ssKGxTbwyDTo2cG4\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>the Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo<\/u><\/a>, Agarwal spoke openly about why The Last of Us Online was canceled despite being \u201cvery very close to done,\u201d blaming it on a combination of factors including the widespread industry pullback following COVID lockdowns, and Sony\u2019s subsequent reassessment of its live service push.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">He also spoke about how The Last of Us Online would have played, explaining that he wanted to recreate the feeling he experienced being mugged.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI wanted people to get that feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes place in The Last of Us universe. It was a multiplayer game set in the same universe as The Last of Us. The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic world where people potentially hunt each other for food, for a little bit of supplies. And it&#8217;s kind of like what those guys did to me, where they rob me for basically a McDonald&#8217;s meal. And so that sense of desperation that comes out of that, and what you\u2019re willing to do when you\u2019re desperate, and the dehumanizing element of it where you&#8217;re gonna almost hunt someone like an animal for the scraps. And when they chase you, they&#8217;re out for blood. They will chase you to the end of the world to get that food.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThe goal of the game was to scavenge supplies, and one of the best sources of supplies is to kill the other player, right? And I remember this experience, I was playing a really early version of the game, and someone was shooting at me and I hid behind a table. And they&#8217;re looking for me and they didn&#8217;t see me, and they left the room. I reloaded my gun and they hear me reloading my gun, and they come back into the room and then I&#8217;m like, s**t, and I jump out the window and they&#8217;re chasing me and I&#8217;m running through the corridors and stuff like that and I duck in some grass, because it&#8217;s an overgrown world because it&#8217;s 25 years in the future. And I&#8217;m like in the grass hiding and they&#8217;re looking for me, and they&#8217;re like walking right next to the grass and they can&#8217;t see me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cAnd it&#8217;s this moment I felt of ducking in that stoop and feeling like they&#8217;re running around. They&#8217;re looking for me and it felt so authentically like that moment. I was like, \u2018Wow, this is powerful.\u2019 It was therapy for me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt was such a personally meaningful project to me, that it killed me that people couldn&#8217;t play it. Despite reaching basically the top of the game industry, being a game director at one of the best game companies in the world, I thought to myself, the only better thing I can do is to make my own company.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/posts\/sacred-symbols-122597374\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Sacred Symbols+<\/u><\/a> last year that feedback from Sony-owned developer Bungie helped to convince Naughty Dog to scrap The Last of Us multiplayer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThe idea for The Last of Us Online came from Naughty Dog and they really wanted to make it,\u201d Yoshida said. \u201cBut Bungie explained [to them] what it takes to make live service games, and Naughty Dog realised, \u2018Oops, we can\u2019t do that! If we do it, we can\u2019t make Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.\u2019 So that was a lack of foresight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While The Last of Us Online was canceled, there are hints that <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/fans-think-neil-druckmann-just-teased-the-last-of-us-part-3-while-mentioning-the-series-upcoming-road-ahead\">Naughty Dog may be ready to return to the series for The Last of Us 3<\/a>. And then there is HBO&#8217;s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/tv\/the-last-of-us-the-series\"><u>The Last of Us TV series<\/u><\/a>, which is currently shooting its third (and likely last) season.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The director of the canceled The Last of Us Online has said former colleagues still message him to say it was \u201cthe best multiplayer game they\u2019ve ever played.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/the-last-of-us-multiplayer-game-cancelled-will-focus-on-single-player-games-going-forward\"><u>Naughty Dog stopped development on The Last of Us Online<\/u><\/a> in December 2023, saying it would have needed to put all its resources into post-launch content for years to come \u2014 an approach that would have severely impacted its ability to develop future single-player games including what we now know is <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/intergalactic-the-heretic-prophet\"><u>Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this month, Vinit Agarwal, who was game director on The Last of Us Online, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/it-killed-me-that-people-couldnt-play-it-director-of-the-last-of-us-online-only-found-out-it-was-cancelled-24-hours-before-the-public-says-it-was-80-complete\"><u>spoke out on the \u201cdevastating\u201d impact of its cancelation<\/u><\/a>, which he said he only found out about 24 hours before Sony made it public.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt\u2019s wild how many of my ex-colleagues still message me today saying how amazing TLOU Online was going to be \u2014 still the best multiplayer game they\u2019ve ever played,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/vinixkun\/status\/2047932214181265713\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Agarwal tweeted over the weekend<\/a>, as spotted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/the-last-of-us-multiplayer-director-game-cancellation-vow\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eurogamer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cNever going to let what I work on not see the light of day again. Thank you all for your support and confidence!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every IGN Naughty Dog Game Review<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1996\/11\/22\/crash-bandicoot&quot;&gt;Reviewed by IGN Staff&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 21, 1996&lt;br&gt;\nCool perspectives aside, Crash really shines when it comes to the graphics. Gorgeous backgrounds and silky smooth animation make this one of the best-looking titles available for the PlayStation. The control is generally pretty good, though it is a little sluggish in some of the levels. Generally, though, Crash is a great game. Sure it can be a tough sometimes, but isn't that what platform games are all about? A must have. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 28 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1997\/11\/05\/crash-bandicoot-2-cortex-strikes-back&quot;&gt;Reviewed by IGN Staff&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 4, 1997&lt;br&gt;\n Crash 2's best asset, though, is the control. Any platform games needs spot on control, and this game definitely has it. The Sony Analog Controller is a must for the game, but I needed to switch back and forth between analog and digital depending on the make-up of the particular level. This, of course, as easy as hitting a button, and is not a slight on the game. The high-res graphics are, of course, beautiful as well.\n\nUltimately, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a splendid game. It's tremendous fun, but it also could've used a little more variety. On to Crash 3!\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1998\/11\/05\/crash-bandicoot-warped&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Randy Nelson&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;November 4, 1998&lt;br&gt;\n So what if the game may not offer the most innovation I've ever seen from a sequel? It still brings enough freshness (in the form of its semi free-roaming portions and new play mechanics) and refinement to the table to suit my tastes just fine. Not only that, it's an incredibly fun game.\n\nCrash fans, I've got good news: Warped is a winner. Anyone who enjoyed the first two games won't be disappointed, and if you've never played a lick of Crash before, you're in for a serious treat. Highly recommended.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/1999\/10\/30\/crash-team-racing&quot;&gt;Reviewed by Doug Perry&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;October 29, 1999&lt;br&gt;\nWell, if you haven't already gotten a sense of what I thought about Crash Team Racing, I'll make myself even clearer. I feel a little like Crash and Lara Croft have something in common, which is that I've seen too much of them in the last four years. I know it's terrible to say, but I'm kinda of sick of Crash Bandicoot, and I could take a big long vacation from him and his comical dance for a long while. It took me a long time to get into this game because every time I look at Crash can see dollar signs blinking in his eyes. Once I got past that major obstacle, I faced the game's all too familiar feel and structure, which depressed me. Finally, after getting about 50% into the game, through sheer force, I started liking it.\n\nBut most folks have only a few choices come the winter the winter holidays. So, here's the bottom line, all cynicism aside. Like I said in the beginning, once you get past the insanely capitalistic smile of Crash, the game is rock solid in playability and graphics. Hell! It's a four-player kart game that's on the PlayStation. Isn't that enough? I mean, not only that, but none of the problems of the other kart games even exist in this one. So what's all the fuss about? If you want a pure party game -- and the best kart game on PlayStation or Nintendo, for that matter -- get Crash Team Racing. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2001\/12\/05\/jak-and-daxter-the-precursor-legacy&quot;&gt;Reviewed by David Zdyrko&lt;\/a&gt;\n&lt;br&gt;December 4, 2001&lt;br&gt;\nIt's kind of funny thinking back to the day that we were heading down to Sony to play Jak and Daxter for the very first time. On the way, we were talking about how we've all grown tired of the 3D platformer genre and thought that the design philosophy of continuously collecting stuff had been done to death and needed to be done away with completely. And then upon seeing that Jak and Daxter was just another straightforward game of this kind, albeit a gorgeous one, we couldn't help but be at least somewhat disappointed by Naughty Dog's mystery game.\n\nThis disappointment would soon change to wonderment and excitement with each subsequent time that I got to play the game. The more I played Jak and Daxter, the more that I realized that this game was really something special. It has that magical feeling that not all games can possess and it's just flat out a joy to play. This is one of the few games that I can't help but smile and have fun when I'm playing. Jak and Daxter is a true 3D platform\/adventure masterpiece and one of the top games ever released in the genre, easily on par with some of the all time greats released by the likes of Nintendo and Rare. \" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Agarwal joined Naughty Dog in 2014 and worked on The Last of Us Online for nearly seven years, from 2016 to 2023, when production was shut down. Afterwards, he left Naughty Dog to start up his own game development studio based in Japan.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ezqv1IyLNlQ?si=ssKGxTbwyDTo2cG4\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>the Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo<\/u><\/a>, Agarwal spoke openly about why The Last of Us Online was canceled despite being \u201cvery very close to done,\u201d blaming it on a combination of factors including the widespread industry pullback following COVID lockdowns, and Sony\u2019s subsequent reassessment of its live service push.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">He also spoke about how The Last of Us Online would have played, explaining that he wanted to recreate the feeling he experienced being mugged.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI wanted people to get that feeling,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes place in The Last of Us universe. It was a multiplayer game set in the same universe as The Last of Us. The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic world where people potentially hunt each other for food, for a little bit of supplies. And it&#8217;s kind of like what those guys did to me, where they rob me for basically a McDonald&#8217;s meal. And so that sense of desperation that comes out of that, and what you\u2019re willing to do when you\u2019re desperate, and the dehumanizing element of it where you&#8217;re gonna almost hunt someone like an animal for the scraps. And when they chase you, they&#8217;re out for blood. They will chase you to the end of the world to get that food.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThe goal of the game was to scavenge supplies, and one of the best sources of supplies is to kill the other player, right? And I remember this experience, I was playing a really early version of the game, and someone was shooting at me and I hid behind a table. And they&#8217;re looking for me and they didn&#8217;t see me, and they left the room. I reloaded my gun and they hear me reloading my gun, and they come back into the room and then I&#8217;m like, s**t, and I jump out the window and they&#8217;re chasing me and I&#8217;m running through the corridors and stuff like that and I duck in some grass, because it&#8217;s an overgrown world because it&#8217;s 25 years in the future. And I&#8217;m like in the grass hiding and they&#8217;re looking for me, and they&#8217;re like walking right next to the grass and they can&#8217;t see me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cAnd it&#8217;s this moment I felt of ducking in that stoop and feeling like they&#8217;re running around. They&#8217;re looking for me and it felt so authentically like that moment. I was like, \u2018Wow, this is powerful.\u2019 It was therapy for me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cIt was such a personally meaningful project to me, that it killed me that people couldn&#8217;t play it. Despite reaching basically the top of the game industry, being a game director at one of the best game companies in the world, I thought to myself, the only better thing I can do is to make my own company.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/posts\/sacred-symbols-122597374\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Sacred Symbols+<\/u><\/a> last year that feedback from Sony-owned developer Bungie helped to convince Naughty Dog to scrap The Last of Us multiplayer.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThe idea for The Last of Us Online came from Naughty Dog and they really wanted to make it,\u201d Yoshida said. \u201cBut Bungie explained [to them] what it takes to make live service games, and Naughty Dog realised, \u2018Oops, we can\u2019t do that! If we do it, we can\u2019t make Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.\u2019 So that was a lack of foresight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While The Last of Us Online was canceled, there are hints that <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/fans-think-neil-druckmann-just-teased-the-last-of-us-part-3-while-mentioning-the-series-upcoming-road-ahead\">Naughty Dog may be ready to return to the series for The Last of Us 3<\/a>. And then there is HBO&#8217;s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/tv\/the-last-of-us-the-series\"><u>The Last of Us TV series<\/u><\/a>, which is currently shooting its third (and likely last) season.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The director of the canceled The Last of Us Online has said former colleagues still message him to say it was \u201cthe best multiplayer game they\u2019ve ever played.\u201d Naughty Dog stopped development on The Last of Us Online in December 2023, saying it would have needed to put all its resources into post-launch content for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1905146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1905146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1905146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1905146\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1905146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1905146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1905146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}