The amount of pressure this small team likely has on them after they were thrown in front of the full force of Sony's push was probably more than they could reasonably handle. I imagine they completely intended to have full functioning multiplayer but had to scrap it for whatever reason.
And I also imagine they were explicitly told to be cagey about that fact from Sony. Rock and hard place.
Shit happens.
The way Sony handled review code was ultra shady in saying no one was allowed have code till the day 1 patch, then sending code about 12 hours before the embargo. So no publication at all had a review score for one of the most anticipated titles of the year on embargo day. So it made them look like they were hiding something, which, now we know they
were hiding something in the multiplayer being gone is sending people batshit crazy trying to defend the game and justifying the "Hatebase".
The minute reviews come out and someone drops a 7/10 or 8/10 on it, then it's going to explode further.
Care about the endorsement of expensive luxury entertainment goods, brehs.
