14 DAY TRIAL // After many leaks and reports, the multiplayer mode in The Last of Us has been officially revealed by developer Naughty Dog, confirming that players will engage in online matches as part of a larger meta-game.
The Last of Us is a survival game and, in the single-player campaign, players will follow the story of Joel and Ellie, who need to travel through a post-apocalyptic United States.
In the online mode, players will create a character and engage in the special Factions experience.
Here, they'll form their own clan and survive across many weeks by engaging in different online matches.
"In Factions you’ll have to pick a side and roll with the Hunters or the Fireflies. Each player starts with a small clan of survivors that you need to keep alive and grow. There are two modes in which you can accomplish the growth and survival of your Clan," the studio said on the PS blog.
"In Supply Raid, you’ll have to scavenge the area and keep your team alive. Your team has a pool of twenty reinforcements. Once the reinforcements have been exhausted, the match will go into sudden death. In Survivors, you’re going to have to be extremely vigilant. There are no respawns. Once you’re gone you’ve been eliminated until the next round. It’s a best of seven rounds in which the first team to win four rounds wins the match."
Crafting will play a big role in the online experience, according to Naughty Dog, as players will need to make their own resources and gear.
Stealth is also essential, as players can use the special Listen mode to detect enemies, as is teamwork, because downed players can be revived by their comrades.
Other mechanics, such as loadouts and an in-game economy, were mentioned by Naughty Dog but no other details were given.
The Last of Us is out worldwide on June 14 for the PS3.