Director of The Last of Us’ Axed PS5 Multiplayer to Start New Studio in Japan

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Deep wounds remain from the cancelation of The Last of Us Online, yet we know that ultimately, we’ll need to find a way to keep moving forward.

Vinit Agarwal, who led the eagerly awaited solo multiplayer spin-off project, recently declared his intention to establish a new studio in Japan. His tenure at Naughty Dog encompassed roles as a game designer for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

“Moving to Japan tomorrow,” he wrote. “Also forming a game studio – more on that soon!”

In January, Agarwal disclosed his plans to depart from Naughty Dog, after the termination of The Last of Us Online project in 2023. This game was under development for quite some time and was reportedly outstanding, but the studio chose not to transform into a “live service games company” and would have needed substantial resources to maintain it.

Despite not being deterred, Agarwal persists in creating multiplayer games. In a previous discussion or on Twitter, he expressed his intention to remain dedicated to online games as they are what he is deeply “interested in” or “enthused for”.

It’s likely that the former Naughty Dog staff member will need multiple years to establish his new studio, refine concepts, and decide on a path forward. Given this, it’s unlikely we’ll see any operational studio from him in the near future.

Yet, having dedicated countless years to The Last of Us Online, we genuinely hope he finds success in his future endeavors.

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2025-07-09 16:06