Naughty Dog may have The Last of Us Part 2 releasing in May, but it seems to have other plans beyond that as well. Lead game designer Vinit Agarwal has revealed that the team is hiring for an online systems programmer. That someone is expected to handle “server technologies, core game networking, matchmaking, player data storage, and virtual store transactions while maintaining a high standard for reliability and information security.”
One would assume that this is for The Last of Us Part 2, which is launching without multiplayer, but where Factions could “eventually” return. However, Agarwal noted that the team has “big ambitions”. Could this be a brand new multiplayer title that the studio is working on?
If this is indeed for the return of Factions, then it’s a ways off from release. Then again, with Sony rumored to reveal the PlayStation 5 in February 2020, this could be a way to prep The Last of Us Part 2 for a next gen release. It remains to be seen but having such a large update launching alongside the PS5 version wouldn’t be strange.
The Last of Us Part 2 is out on May 29th, 2020 for PS4. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.