Following the release of The Last of Us Part 2 last June, the door has seemed wide open for what Naughty Dog could do next. If a new job posting is anything to go by, Naughty Dog is working on a live service multiplayer game.
This wouldn't be the first time Naughty Dog has developed a multiplayer mode. Its first notable crack at it was for 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. From there, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End both included online modes. Each Uncharted game featured multiple modes to choose from, including co-op missions. 2013's The Last of Us also included a multiplayer mode called Factions, where you choose to be either a Firefly or Hunter. While Uncharted: Lost Legacy and The Last of Us Part 2 didn't include an online mode, Naughty Dog teased that the factions mode would live on.
Among the many roles, Naughty Dog is looking to fill a position for Economy Designer. This person will assist in developing, implementing, and tuning player progression and game economy systems. Collaborating with other departments such as game design, programming, and UI is also required. Additionally, the role will require collaboration "to ensure economy systems synergize well with the game as a whole."
Based on the job description, it's unclear if the multiplayer mode is Last of Us related or not. However, a report from September 2019 suggests an iteration on the faction's mode will be its own game instead. Back in November 2019, Naughty Dog was hiring for more multiplayer-specific roles such as an online systems programmer and multiplayer gameplay programmer. Naughty Dog has been on another hiring spree as of this January for a variety of departments, some of which being multiplayer-related.
In addition to a possible expansion on Factions, a next-gen version of The Last of Us Part II might be in the works. This could fall in line with Naughty Dog hiring last July for a next-gen project. Whether it's a new IP or a Last of Us Part 3, it'll be a while before we get any confirmation from PlayStation and Naughty Dog.