While the most recent PlayStation Showcase delivered exciting reveals and tantalizing updates, it left out one title that's on many fans' wishlists. As Sony continues to build the PlayStation 5's library with big titles, one that has been in demand for a long time is a return to The Last of Us' online multiplayer mode, Factions.
At present, the only confirmed upcoming project associated with The Last of Us is the upcoming HBO series, and developer Naughty Dog's current project is a mystery. Rumors and speculation crops up every few months, but nothing concrete has materialized despite the developers previously announcing a multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part II. Though there's no guarantee that the this would actually be a revived or enhanced Factions, but fans would certainly want to see it return.
The Last of Us released in 2013 to universal acclaim, with critics and fans alike praising the story of Joel and Ellie, the immersive world created by Naughty Dog and the engaging gameplay. While the singe player campaign rightfully deserved all this, it meant that Factions took a backseat. In fact, Factions didn't receive much marketing at all in the lead up to the game's release. Naughty Dog had dipped its toes in the multiplayer sphere, but even Uncharted's multiplayer modes similarly received less coverage. Still, those who put time into Factions found that the translation of The Last of Us into a multiplayer setting was a hidden gem.
The slower, more methodical combat that made The Last of Us' campaign so thrilling found a home in PvP, with planning, preparation and calculation resonating with players looking to take on others. Factions flew in the face of other action multiplayer games like Call of Duty and Battlefield, both of which also had big releases in 2013.
More often than not, running and gunning would only lead to being picked off by a hidden archer, tripping over a methodically planted bomb, or receiving a precisely thrown Molotov cocktail. There was no other online experience on console offering such a dramatic gameplay loop -- when every player on the opposing team is thinking just as tactically as you with just as limited resources, Factions offered an utterly compelling experience.
Though it was a side offering, Factions earned a cult following and continued support from the developers. Naughty Dog released multiple updates and several DLC bundles, offering new weapons and maps inspired by locations in the game's beloved campaign. Clearly, Naughty Dog understood it had a dedicated and passionate fanbase engaged in Factions, playing countless rounds as Fireflies and Hunters.
A new Factions would certainly bring old players back along with new ones. However, it would likely look different, reflecting the changes the online gaming sphere has undergone since 2013. There's an increasing market share dedicated to games-as-a-service titles and free-to-play multiplayer. There's has also been a noticeable change in how PlayStation has treated some of its first party releases, with smaller titles like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Spider-Man: Miles Morales launching as smaller experiences at lower price points.
It stands to reason that Sony could quite easily release Factions on its own, separate from The Last of Us Part II's single-player campaign. It could receive long-term support and updates similar to other multiplayer games. The Last of Us name holds weight that would entice gamers towards Factions whether they played it originally or not.
As for what a revamped Factions would look like in terms of gameplay, it could draw from TLOU2's conflict between the Washington Liberation Front and the Seraphites, replacing the original's Fireflies and Hunters with these new rival organizations. Another idea that could work is adding Infected either as part of a horde mode or a mutual enemy in PvP. Regardless of specifics, so long as Factions maintains the tense team deathmatches and rounds of last survivor standing that made it a cult favorite in the first place, a new version would be a welcome addition for eager fans.