The Last of Us, a highly acclaimed franchise from PlayStation, has historically remained exclusive to consoles and PC. However, recent court filings reveal that Sony once explored the possibility of developing a mobile game for the beloved post-apocalyptic series in collaboration with Tencent.
This surprising information comes from a declaration by Olivier Courtemanche, PlayStation Studios’ head of mobile, as part of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s ongoing lawsuit against Tencent. While the lawsuit primarily concerns Tencent developer Aurora Studios’ game, Light of Motiram, which allegedly resembles Sony’s Horizon, Courtemanche’s sworn statement includes details of a meeting held in China in July 2024. During this meeting, Courtemanche’s team understood that Aurora Studios was interested in a potential collaboration for The Last of Us.
The court document did not provide further specifics about this potential Last of Us mobile project. Courtemanche further stated that during the same 2024 meeting, Aurora presented slides featuring a Horizon collaboration, an idea Sony had already decisively rejected.
Looking back, Naughty Dog announced in late 2023 that the long-anticipated multiplayer game for The Last of Us had been canceled, with the studio shifting its focus back to single-player experiences. Following this, Naughty Dog revealed “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” at The Game Awards in December 2024. Earlier this year, Neil Druckmann, creative director for The Last of Us, also hinted that the team is developing a second unannounced project.
Despite its immense popularity, The Last of Us has not yet seen a spin-off game or mobile adaptation. The franchise has, however, achieved critical and commercial success with its critically acclaimed HBO television series. For those eager for more, details are available regarding a possible The Last of Us: Part III.
