A fan project designed to add multiplayer to The Last of Us Part II has been halted after Sony Interactive Entertainment asked its creators not to release it.
The decision follows Naughty Dog’s cancellation of its planned Last of Us Online project nearly three years ago. While the studio moved on to other work, modders had spent months developing their own take on a modern Last of Us multiplayer experience.
Speclizer announced the project’s cancellation on September 13, 2026. The update did not publish the precise wording of Sony’s letter, but confirmed that the mod would not be released.
“The TLOU 2 Multiplayer mod that has been in development since January was supposed to release this month. Unfortunately I recently received a letter on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment requesting for the mod not to be released. Extremely sad…”
Speclizer also asked followers to support a future project based on an original idea rather than an existing Sony property.
A promising fan project comes to an end
Throughout 2026, Speclizer shared development videos on YouTube. Those updates attracted thousands of views, with the latest and presumably final video passing 110,000 views. Published the previous month, it said the project was getting closer to becoming a playable multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part II.
For readers who follow how enthusiasts adapt games and technology, RETROCADE’s arcade news and features covers the wider hobby and industry.
Why the project may have attracted legal attention
Speclizer did not explain why Sony intervened. However, some observers have linked the timing to the project being placed behind a Patreon subscription, which could have allowed its creators to earn money from access to the mod.
Mod developer Kinsie argued that subscription-gated access can create serious problems for fan projects, pointing to previous disputes involving CoD XLabs, Cyberpunk REAL VR and a Pokémon mod for Palworld.
“When will people learn that locking access to mods behind Patreon subscription gates is just asking for trouble?” https://t.co/pXFxwvet8R pic.twitter.com/jOM4Jhi5YS
Kinsie posted that view on September 14, 2026. It remains speculation rather than a confirmed explanation from Sony or Speclizer.
What remains of The Last of Us multiplayer?
The original Factions multiplayer mode remains playable in the PlayStation 4 remaster of The Last of Us. It was not included in the PS5 remake, The Last of Us Part I, which launched in 2022.
With Naughty Dog’s standalone multiplayer project shelved and this community-made alternative stopped, the future of the series’ multiplayer is uncertain. If the existing servers are eventually closed in the coming years, official Last of Us multiplayer could become unavailable.
Naughty Dog has, however, hinted once again that a third mainline game is in development. Until then, fans interested in hands-on game projects can explore RETROCADE’s DIY arcade kits and arcade parts for custom builds.
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