Naughty Dog has incorporated multiplayer into many of its games, but the studios never released a primarily multiplayer-focused title. However, that is about to change, according to recent job listings from the Santa Monica-based developer.

Naughty Dog is looking for a new gameplay scripter and level designer to join its team on a multiplayer-focused project. The posting fueled speculation that the promised Factions mode for The Last of Us 2 might be getting spun off into a separate game.

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The ad invites potential applicants to “Embark on Naughty Dog’s newest adventure – the studio’s first standalone multiplayer game!” It goes on to explain the studio’s desire to create a multiplayer experience that shows the same quality and ambition as its story-driven offerings. While there’s no concrete evidence pointing that direction, it’s possible the studio is working on a multiplayer spinoff of its popular The Last of Us series.

The original The Last of Us featured several team-based multiplayer modes. Players took the role as a member of either the Fireflies or a group of hostile survivors called the Hunters. While the single-player story was The Last of Us’ primary focus, the Factions modes were nonetheless quite popular. Naughty Dog initially intended for there to also be a multiplayer component in The Last of Us 2. The studio axed those plans in favor of focusing on the game’s single-player content.

Naughty Dog previously indicated a desire to reintroduce Factions in some capacity. Expanding it into a full game creates opportunities for a multiplayer experience that’s much greater in scope. It also makes sense given comments from PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst. During a Q&A earlier this month, he talked about how Narrative-driven single-player games have been and will continue to be a significant focus for PlayStation Studios. However, he also indicated an interest in offering more varied experiences, saying, “Who says that multiplayer experience cannot have great stories, right?”

So, while still far from confirmed, a multiplayer-focused The Last of Us game seems increasingly likely. Whether it will be a spinoff or a direct sequel is still an open question. An early outline for The Last of Us 3 already exists but is not in development, according to Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann. There are also substantial hurdles to creating a story-driven multiplayer experience, assuming that’s what the studio has in mind. Just look at the original Titanfall to see how narrative storytelling and competitive multiplayer can be hard to mix.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that the upcoming game will even be part of The Last of Us franchise. Naughty Dog could just as easily transplant Factions-inspired gameplay into a new setting. There is no official confirmation the new game has any connection to The Last of Us at all. Still, fans of The Last of Us’ multiplayer have good reasons to be hopeful.

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