Since its release in 2020, The Last of Us Part II remains a monument to single-player gaming, but the total lack of multiplayer has left a bitter taste for fans of Naughty Dogespecially after the cancellation in December 2023 of the standalone Factions. The studio chose to focus on narrative experiences, leaving aside any online sequels.
It was not until the PC version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, launched on April 3, 2025, that a well-known modder, Speclizermanages to unlock what many thought impossible: a true multiplayer mode, playable by two people in the same Seattle. A free co-op mode therefore technically already exists, but in what state and for whom exactly?
The Last of Us 2: a free co-op mode finally real on PC?
Licensing specialist, Speclizer made a name for itself with projects like Project FEDRA on TLOU2 or survival mods on the first episode. On January 10, 2026, he posted a video showing two independently controlled Ellies in the semi-open area of Seattle, on PC. The two players move, aim and shoot separately, in the same persistent world.
Visually, everything already looks like a co-op session: same session, same overgrown city, synchronized movements. One fan summed up the excitement below the video with a simple comment: “It will be epic to be able to play with others in this game engine!”, reports GamingBible. For the first time, The Last of Us Part II truly accommodates multiple players in the same environment.
What does this The Last of Us Part II co-op mod already allow for players?
In its current state, the mod is primarily designed as a mode PvP : two human players hunting each other, without game-controlled NPCs. Speclizer admits, managing the AI across the network would be technical hell. But even without infected or enemy factions, the simple fact of exploring Seattle together gives a real flavor of co-op, especially for those who dream of repeating the adventure with a friend.
Unlike the roguelike single player mode Without returnofficially added in the Remastered version, this mod transforms the experience into a shared playground. It is based on the PC version, equipped with numerous graphic settings and modern options, and opens the door to sessions with friends which would remain, if the project is successful, completely free for owners of the game on Steam or the Epic Games Store.
When will you be able to try this The Last of Us 2 co-op mode on your PC?
This is where the hype must remain measured. In the description of his video, Speclizer warns that the project is “purely experimental, with no release plans at the moment, we just want to see how far we can go,” according to GamingBible. In other words, co-op mode is playable now… but only for the modder and his team, internally.
If the mod comes out one day, you will absolutely have to have The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC, accept potentially unstable unofficial content and save its games before installation. For the moment, no date, no download link and no guarantee: this prototype simply proves that multiplayer on TLOU2 is possible, putting pressure back on Naughty Dog and fueling the fantasy of a true free co-op mode for the community.