The Last of Us series may be iconic for its powerful stories and unforgettable performances, but its Factions multiplayer mode is a cult classic for a reason. Intense combat, tough decision-making with craftable items, and solid strategic gameplay all made it a joy to battle other players online. However, what truly made The Last of Us’ multiplayer mode special was the use of the Clan system.
This feature saw players aligning with either the Hunters or Fireflies and surviving for 12 weeks. To survive successfully, they needed to perform well in their matches and collect supplies, which would be used to feed and care for a growing camp of survivors. Though this camp was represented by a large circle, and each survivor was ultimately just a dot, The Last of Us franchise’s upcoming multiplayer spin-off can take things to the next level.
Giving The Last of Us Fans a Living, Breathing Camp to Provide For
While the 12 weeks system from the original Factions mode remains unique, its simplicity kept it from being fully engrossing for some players. Uploading the names of friends and family members from Facebook was one way to give each camp a bit more personality, but players were ultimately left with some tiny dots representing people they know in real life. As a result, it could be hard to get truly invested in these unseen survivors, but a standalone multiplayer game has a chance to change that.
In this standalone multiplayer game, players could be given an opportunity to actually explore their camp between matches. It could serve as a hub area that is not too dissimilar from the Headquarters in Call of Duty: WW2 or the Tower in Destiny, with gamers able to pick up new challenges and embark on some new missions whenever they are ready. In their Clan’s camp, gamers could interact with people who have joined the group, getting to know their survivors and becoming more attached to them.
Instead of having basic supplements to collect, those playing the upcoming Naughty Dog game could be tasked with gathering different rewards for different projects. For instance, one survivor may ask for some building materials to make a home for their family, while another could be in desperate need of medical supplies. Providing for proper characters that look as real as Tess in The Last of Us Part 1 could serve as a huge motivator to keep playing, and Naughty Dog would not have to stop there.
Not only could it get more challenging to provide for survivors over time like in the original Factions mode, but the larger a camp gets, the more attention it could draw from the infected. A PvPvE approach for the upcoming The Last of Us multiplayer project makes sense, though another great way to work in AI-controlled enemies would be through attacks on player bases. Initially, these random attacks could be limited to a few basic infected and Clickers, but could eventually grow to include Bloaters and other major threats.
Making the Clan system feel like a massive feature instead of just a fun bonus should be a priority for this upcoming game, as it presents many opportunities for Naughty Dog. From a monetization standpoint, players could purchase new furniture and progress through a battle pass that provides alternate building designs. Players could be encouraged to visit their friends’ bases and see what they have built, too. Lastly, and most importantly, lively settlements with distinct characters could allow Naughty Dog to deliver some of the strong stories that The Last of Us is known for.
A The Last of Us multiplayer game is currently in development.