A PC mod aiming to bring multiplayer to The Last of Us Part 2 has achieved a significant development milestone, now supporting 4v4 matches. Modder Speclizer, who began work on the project early this year, revealed the progress on X, formerly Twitter, stating that the mod can now handle team-based play, a notable step up from its previous 1v1 limitation. This fan-driven effort continues to advance toward its planned September 2026 release.
Development updates shared by Speclizer showcase ongoing enhancements, including a functional leaderboard and the addition of the Seraphite Forest map, complementing the previously implemented Houses map. A key focus for the modder is refining animation synchronization to accurately replicate the fluid, dynamic animations characteristic of Naughty Dog's work. Initial implementation revealed that only the player character in The Last of Us Part 2 possesses the full animation set, with NPCs utilizing different movements, a challenge Speclizer is working to overcome for multiplayer functionality.
The mod project is documented through a YouTube series, offering behind-the-scenes insights into the process of integrating a multiplayer component into a title primarily known for its single-player, narrative-driven experience. The current iteration of the mod features a main menu with map selection and gear loadouts, a matchmaking system, and is described as playable, retaining the visual fidelity expected from a multiplayer mode built on The Last of Us Part 2's foundation.
While this fan project is not the official standalone Factions multiplayer game that Naughty Dog had been developing before its cancellation by Sony, it represents the closest alternative for players seeking a multiplayer experience within The Last of Us universe.