**Behold, the Glorious and "Very Broken" Last of Us 2 Multiplayer Mod**

For fans of The Last of Us Part 2, one of the greatest disappointments was the lack of a multiplayer component. The original game's Factions mode breathed new life into the series, offering an alternative way to play that didn't involve hacking through hordes of infected. Almost six years after its release, modders have stepped in to rectify this omission, and the result is nothing short of astonishing.

Meet Speclizer, a talented modder who has been working on unofficial multiplayer for The Last of Us 2 since last week. With a proven track record of creating modifications for Joel and Ellie's zombie-infested adventures, as well as the God of War series, they were able to conjure up a functional multiplayer mode in just a few short days. And while it's still very rough around the edges, a clip shared on Twitter shows two Ellies running amok on a portion of the Seattle map.

Co-op is currently the focus, but the intention is for PvP gameplay at some point in the future. What's most impressive, however, is that this has been accomplished largely by one person. The modder has already released a working model, and while it's not much to look at just yet, it's clear that a functional multiplayer mode is within reach.

The Black Hokage, a YouTuber and streamer, was among the first to react to the clip, saying "Obviously it's not much right now. It’s still in the testing phase. But I appreciate the effort. Some of us were looking forward to that multiplayer Last Of Us spin-off game." Another response echoed his sentiment: "Modders out here doing what Sony was too scared to try."

For those who may not be aware, Factions was initially intended to expand into a full-fledged multiplayer experience. Naughty Dog invested four years into the project before ultimately cancelling it due to concerns about maintaining a resource-intensive live-service game. The studio opted instead to focus on single-player experiences, leading to their next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

As for when we can expect to play this mod for ourselves, there's no concrete answer just yet. However, if Speclizer continues at this pace, it won't be long before we can join in on the fun. One thing is certain: this is a testament to the dedication and creativity of the gaming community, who are always willing to fill the gaps left by developers.

As an aside, it's worth noting that Sony rejected a Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration, only for Tencent to pitch a new The Last of Us game as a replacement. One can't help but wonder what could have been if Naughty Dog had continued with Factions. Perhaps one day we'll get our answer.

**About the Author**

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist based in Glasgow. With a background in anime, horror movies, and The Muppets, he's always on the lookout for the next big thing. When not writing for Dexerto or The Digital Fix, you can find him exploring the world of action-RPGs, heavy metal, or pro-wrestling.