Now that it has a solid library of single-player IPs under its belt, PlayStation looks to expand into the world of live-service multiplayer for its next major phase. While PlayStation has mentioned this next phase multiple times over the last year or so, it became truly apparent during the recent PlayStation Showcase, with titles like Marathon, Fairgames, and Concord all confirming that this next phase is just on the horizon. But these games are still probably a ways off from releasing, and PlayStation might be looking to The Last of Us to kick off this bold new phase in a familiar way.
Officially announced during Summer Game Fest 2022, not much has been officially revealed about The Last of Us' multiplayer game since, except that it's been recently delayed. But with its first reveal coming over a year ago, it seems likely that PlayStation will use The Last of Us to set the precedent for its new wave of live-service online games, and if the rumors are true, then a Horizon multiplayer game could be just behind it. But there's one big challenge that both games might need to overcome.
The Last of Us and Horizon's Multiplayer Spinoff Need to Handle Trophies Carefully
Both The Last of Us and Horizon franchises have had pretty great trophy lists. While The Last of Us has usually provided all the trophies fans would expect of a linear, 30-hour, single-player action game, Horizon has done the same for the open-world RPG genre. In fact, both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West have some of the most rewarding Platinum trophy journeys on the PlayStation, feeling manageable and satisfying through natural progression even despite the games' gigantic open-worlds.
Trophies have always been a pretty big aspect of Horizon and The Last of Us, just as they are for every first-party PlayStation franchise, and not having them in their upcoming multiplayer spinoffs would be very disappointing for long-time fans and trophy hunters. But on the other side of that coin, it's not always easy making trophies for online games, especially not those that end up following a live-service model.
Over the last decade or so, online-only trophies have had a tough time. Unlike single-player-oriented trophies that allow the player to complete everything on their own time, multiplayer trophies tend to require the player to fit around a specific schedule, such as asking a player to complete a certain amount of matches in a limited-time game mode. Online trophies also run the risk of not being obtainable if the game's servers eventually go down.
The biggest challenge Horizon's spinoff and The Last of Us face when it comes to trophies is this notion of a live-service model. With both games presumably being continuously updated for years to come, it poses a unique problem in how the developers are going to handle the games' trophies. The developers could just create a set trophy list for day one, encompassing modes and goals that will forever be achievable in the game, much like Apex Legends.
Alternatively, Naughty Dog's multiplayer The Last of Us and Horizon could feature trophy lists that evolve over time, in a similar vein to trophy lists that are updated when a new DLC launches. The former is more straightforward, although it could lead to trophy hunters finishing the game quickly and dropping off. While the latter provides more content and incentive over time, it runs the risk of overwhelming trophy hunters with an endless grind. Horizon and The Last of Us need to strike the perfect balance between these two outcomes, which is much easier said than done.
The Last of Us multiplayer game is currently in development.