The Last of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II | |
---|---|
![]() Cover art depicting Ellie | |
Developer(s) | Naughty Dog |
Publisher(s) | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Director(s) |
|
Designer(s) |
|
Programmer(s) |
|
Artist(s) |
|
Writer(s) |
|
Composer(s) | Gustavo Santaolalla |
Series | The Last of Us |
Platform(s) | |
Release |
|
Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Last of Us Part II is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Set four years after The Last of Us (2013), the game focuses on two playable characters in a post-apocalyptic United States whose lives intertwine: Ellie, who sets out in revenge for a murder, and Abby, a soldier who becomes involved in a conflict between her militia and a religious cult. The game uses a third-person perspective; the player must fight human enemies and zombie-like creatures with firearms, improvised weapons, and stealth.
The game's development began in 2014, after the release of The Last of Us Remastered. Neil Druckmann returned as creative director, co-writing the story with Halley Gross. The themes of revenge and retribution were inspired by Druckmann's experiences growing up in Israel. Ashley Johnson reprises her role as Ellie, while Laura Bailey was cast as Abby. Their performances included the simultaneous recording of motion and voice. Gustavo Santaolalla returned to compose and perform the score. The developers pushed the PlayStation 4's technical capabilities. Development reportedly included a crunch schedule of 12-hour workdays and cost around US$220 million, making it one of the most expensive video games to develop.
Following some delays, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Last of Us Part II was released for the PlayStation 4 on June 19, 2020. A remastered version was released for the PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024. Part II received acclaim for its gameplay, audio design, score, performances, characters, and visual fidelity, though its narrative and themes divided critics. It was review bombed on Metacritic, with some players criticizing the story and characters; discourse surrounding the game became adversarial. Part II is one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games and the fastest-selling PlayStation 4 exclusive, with over four million units sold in its release weekend and over ten million by 2022. It won more than 320 Game of the Year awards and received multiple other accolades from awards shows and gaming publications.
Gameplay
[edit]![The player character is lying on her stomach. Some human enemies and a dog lurk in the distance.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8b/The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_stealth_gameplay.gif/260px-The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_stealth_gameplay.gif)
The Last of Us Part II is an action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective featuring elements of the survival horror genre.[1][2] The player traverses post-apocalyptic environments such as buildings and forests to advance the story. The player can use firearms, improvised weapons, and stealth to defend against hostile humans and cannibalistic creatures infected by a mutated strain of the Cordyceps fungus.[3] Control intermittently switches between Ellie and Abby;[1] the player also briefly controls Joel in the opening sequence.[4] The nimble nature of the player character introduces platforming elements, allowing the player to jump and climb to traverse environments and gain advantages during combat.[5] The player can break glass objects such as windows to access certain areas or obtain supplies.[6] Some areas are navigated by horse or boat.[3][7]
In combat, the player can use long-range weapons such as rifles and bows,[3][8] and short-range weapons such as pistols and revolvers.[5] The player is able to scavenge limited-use melee weapons such as machetes and hammers,[9] and throw bricks and bottles to distract or attack enemies.[10] Collected items can be used to upgrade weapons at workbenches[11] or craft equipment such as health kits, Molotov cocktails, and makeshift silencers.[1] The player can collect supplements to upgrade skills in a skill tree; training manuals found throughout the environment unlock additional skill tree branches, allowing upgrades to attributes such as the health meter, crafting speed, and ammunition types.[12]
Though the player can attack enemies directly, they can also use stealth to attack undetected or sneak past them.[1] "Listen Mode" allows the player to locate enemies through a heightened sense of hearing and spatial awareness, indicated as outlines visible through walls and objects.[10] In the cover system, the player can crouch behind obstacles to gain advantages in combat, and can also crawl in a prone position to evade enemies.[13] Hostile enemies use artificial intelligence; they may take cover or call for assistance, and can take advantage when the player is distracted, out of ammunition, or in a fight.[14] The player may be impaled by an arrow, which will progressively decrease their health meter and disables Listen Mode until removed when in cover.[15] Player companions, such as Dina, assist in combat by killing enemies or announcing their location.[16] The game introduces guard dogs that track the player's scent, which can be visualized in Listen Mode.[1]
Plot
[edit]Joel (Troy Baker) confesses to his brother, Tommy (Jeffrey Pierce), his responsibility in preventing the Fireflies attempting to develop a cure for the Cordyceps fungus pandemic by saving Ellie (Ashley Johnson) from a fatal operation. Four years later, Joel and Ellie have built a life in Jackson, Wyoming, though their relationship has become strained. While on patrol, Joel and Tommy rescue a stranger, Abby (Laura Bailey), from an Infected horde. They return to an outpost used as a temporary hideout by Abby's group, former Fireflies now part of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), a militia group based in Seattle, Washington. The group attack Joel and Tommy; Abby seeks revenge against Joel for murdering her father, the Firefly surgeon (Derek Phillips) who was to perform the operation on Ellie. Meanwhile, Ellie and her girlfriend, Dina (Shannon Woodward), search for the brothers. Ellie enters the WLF outpost and witnesses Abby beat Joel to death. Abby spares Ellie and Tommy, who swear revenge.
Tommy sets out for Seattle to hunt Abby, and Ellie and Dina follow him. In Seattle, Ellie reveals her immunity to Dina, who in turn reveals she is pregnant. The next day, Ellie pursues Tommy alone and encounters Jesse (Stephen Chang), Dina's ex-boyfriend, who followed them. While searching for Abby's friend Nora (Chelsea Tavares), Ellie encounters the Seraphites, a religious cult locked in a battle with the WLF over control of Seattle. Ellie tracks down Nora and tortures her for information on Abby's location, which traumatizes Ellie. The following day, she kills two more members of Abby's group, the pregnant Mel (Ashly Burch) and her boyfriend, Owen (Patrick Fugit). A flashback reveals that, two years earlier, Ellie traveled to the Firefly hospital in Salt Lake City and learned the truth. Devastated, she cut ties with Joel. In the present, Ellie's group is ambushed by Abby, who kills Jesse and holds Tommy hostage.
Three days earlier, Abby learns that Owen, her ex-boyfriend, has gone missing while investigating Seraphite activity. Abby searches for Owen and is captured by Seraphites. She is rescued by Yara (Victoria Grace) and Lev (Ian Alexander), Seraphite siblings who have been branded apostates after Lev defied Seraphite traditions. Though Yara suffers a broken arm, Abby leaves them to find Owen who, disillusioned with the war, plans to sail to Santa Barbara, California, where Fireflies may be regrouping. Abby returns to rescue Yara and Lev, and travels across Seattle with Lev to retrieve medical supplies so Mel can amputate Yara's arm. After the surgery, Lev runs away to convince his devout mother to leave the Seraphite cult. Abby and Yara find him in the Seraphite settlement, where Lev has accidentally killed his mother in self-defense. The trio flee as the WLF begins an assault on the Seraphites. Abby betrays the WLF to save Lev, and Yara sacrifices herself to allow Abby and Lev to escape. The pair return to find Owen and Mel dead and a map leading to Ellie's hideout. An enraged Abby shoots Tommy, impairing him, and severely beats Ellie and Dina. At Lev's insistence, Abby spares them and tells them to leave Seattle.
Several months later,[17] Ellie and Dina are living on a farm, raising Dina and Jesse's son, though Ellie suffers from post-traumatic stress. When Tommy arrives with information on Abby's whereabouts, Ellie leaves to find her, despite Dina's pleas to stay. Abby and Lev arrive in Santa Barbara searching for the Fireflies, who they discover are regrouping at Catalina Island, California, but are captured, tortured, and left to die by the slave-keeping Rattlers. Ellie arrives at Santa Barbara and rescues the pair. Ellie forces Abby to fight her, during which Abby bites off two of Ellie's fingers. Ellie overpowers and nearly drowns Abby, but has a change of heart after having a flashback of Joel, and ultimately spares her. Abby and Lev sail to the Fireflies. Ellie returns to the farmhouse and finds it empty. She tries to play Joel's guitar with her damaged hand, recalls her last conversation with Joel in which she expressed her willingness to forgive him, and leaves.[18]
Development
[edit]Early story concepts for The Last of Us Part II were conceived during the development of The Last of Us in 2013.[19][20] Naughty Dog began development in 2014, soon after the release of The Last of Us Remastered.[21] By August 2017, with the release of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the entire 350-person team at Naughty Dog had shifted to develop Part II.[22][23] Neil Druckmann led development as creative director and writer, reprising his role from The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016).[24][25] Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau were selected to be co-game directors for Part II,[26] overseeing gameplay elements such as level design and mechanics.[27] For the final months of development, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team operated via remote work arrangements.[23] In total, approximately 2,169 developers across 14 studios worked on the game.[28] According to documents from publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment, the 70-month development peaked at 200 full-time employees and cost around US$220 million, making it one of the most expensive video games to develop.[29]
Druckmann wrote the story with Halley Gross.[23] The team experimented with different plot structures and considered scrapping the project until they settled on an idea that mirrored the first game;[30] Druckmann said that whereas The Last of Us is about the extreme measures one would take for love, Part II is more about how far one would go to bring justice for those they love.[31] The themes of revenge and retribution were inspired by Druckmann's experiences growing up in Israel, where violence was a frequent topic.[23] He recalled watching footage of the 2000 Ramallah lynching, and how, after hearing the cheering crowds, his mind turned to violent thoughts about bringing the perpetrators to justice.[32][33] He wanted the player to feel a "thirst for revenge" before making them realize the reality of their actions.[23] Druckmann said other themes include tribalism, trauma, and the pursuit of justice.[31] Artists at Naughty Dog traveled to Seattle to analyze the architecture, vegetation, materials, topography, lighting, and capture photorealistic textures.[30][34]
![A bright white stage with actors in black suits and camera operators](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_motion_capture_1.jpg/260px-The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_motion_capture_1.jpg)
Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker reprise their roles as Ellie and Joel, respectively, while Laura Bailey was cast as Abby.[35][36] The actors' performances were recorded at a studio in Playa Vista, Los Angeles using performance capture, recording motion and voice simultaneously.[37] Gross noted that a goal of the writers was to "create the most multifaceted characters you've seen in games".[34] She particularly wanted to explore the multifaceted behavior of Ellie, showing her power as well as her insecurities.[38] The change of player character from Ellie to Abby was inspired by the change from Joel to Ellie in the first game, though emphasized in Part II due to its focus on empathy.[39] Druckmann wanted the player to hate Abby early in the game, but later empathize with her.[40]
The developers pushed the technical capabilities of the PlayStation 4 when creating Part II, adding more enemies and larger environments than in previous games.[20] Druckmann noted that any drops in detail would ruin the sense of authenticity, which required consistent optimization of the technology.[30] Improved artificial intelligence (AI) allowed for deeper connections with characters and the creation of bonds through gameplay.[41] The Last of Us Part II was originally planned as an open world game with hub worlds, but later the game transferred to a more linear style as it better served the narrative.[42] Naughty Dog wanted to increase the accessibility options introduced in Uncharted 4 to ensure that all players could complete the story, and the developers attended conferences and worked with advocates.[43]
Gustavo Santaolalla returned to compose and perform the game's score, as he had done with the first game,[44] while Mac Quayle contributed combat music.[23] The developers received permission to use the songs "Future Days" by Pearl Jam and "Take On Me" by A-ha.[45] To achieve the sound of the Shamblers, the team hired voice actors Raul Ceballos and Steve Blum, and used items such as grapefruits to create the explosion sounds. The dialogue team referenced whistled languages such as Sfryria and Silbo Gomero for the Seraphites' whistling, and hired actors Stevie Mack and Lisa Marie to provide the whistles in three styles.[46]
According to a report by Kotaku's Jason Schreier, the development included a crunch schedule of 12-hour work days. This continued after the game was delayed. Schreier suggested that development was slowed due to the enormous turnover of employees following the development of Uncharted 4, with few veterans left on the team. Some of the developers allegedly hoped that Part II would fail and prove that the working conditions were not viable. Sony granted Naughty Dog an additional two weeks of development for bug fixes.[47] Druckmann felt that he had failed to find the correct balance for employees on Part II, and said the studio would receive external assistance for future projects.[48]
Release and promotion
[edit]![A train with an advertisement for the game: the large block text says "The Last of Us Part II", with a dark picture of Ellie's face.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_marketing_-_train.jpg/260px-The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_marketing_-_train.jpg)
The Last of Us Part II was announced at the PlayStation Experience event on December 3, 2016.[35] At E3 2018, Druckmann said that Naughty Dog was refusing to announce a release date until the game was "very close to release", to avoid disappointing fans.[49] During Sony's State of Play presentation on September 24, 2019, Naughty Dog announced a release date of February 21, 2020.[50] On October 25, Druckmann announced a delay to May 29, 2020, to "bring the entire game up to a level of polish we would call Naughty Dog quality".[51] On April 2, 2020, Sony announced that the game was almost complete but had been indefinitely delayed due to logistical problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[52] In late April, several videos leaked online, showing cutscenes, gameplay, and significant plot details. Druckmann tweeted that he was "heartbroken" for fans and for the team, who had devoted years to development.[53] On April 27, Sony announced a release date of June 19, 2020.[54]
The first trailer was released alongside the announcement, showcasing the return of Ellie and Joel.[55] The second trailer, released in October 2017 as a part of Paris Games Week, revealed Abby, Yara, and Lev.[56][57] Dina and Jesse were first shown in a presentation at E3 2018.[58] A trailer was featured in Sony's State of Play presentation in September 2019,[59] which preceded additional marketing to celebrate Outbreak Week—the week in which the fictional outbreak occurred in the original game.[60] A story trailer was released on May 6,[61] followed by an animated commercial on June 3,[62] and the final pre-launch trailer on June 10.[63] Naughty Dog replaced and altered characters in the trailers to conceal story events; Druckmann cited the marketing of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), which concealed its protagonist in trailers, as an influence.[64]
Naughty Dog announced the special edition versions in September 2019.[65] The game was featured in its own standalone State of Play presentation on May 27.[66] From May 13 to June 3, Naughty Dog released a series of videos about the development.[67] The game was banned in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, attributed to the countries' conservative traditions regarding homosexuality.[68] An update on August 13 added a permadeath mode, a new difficulty level, and gameplay modifiers.[69] For The Last of Us Day[a] in September 2020, Naughty Dog announced new merchandise for the game, including a vinyl soundtrack, board game, statues, and posters.[71] A performance update was released on May 19, 2021, allowing gameplay at 60 frames per second on the PlayStation 5.[72] A 120-minute documentary about the game's development, Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II, was released on February 2, 2024.[73]
Remaster
[edit]In November 2023, following a PlayStation Store listing leak, Naughty Dog announced a remastered version of the game, titled The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It was released for the PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024; existing owners can purchase the game digitally for US$10. A special edition version, including a SteelBook case, trading cards, patch, and pins, was made available in some regions.[74] Remastered features visual improvements, faster loading times, DualSense integration, audio description, a speedrun-focused mode, and an audio commentary for cutscenes featuring Druckmann, Gross, Johnson, Baker, Bailey, and Woodward.[74][75] Some journalists and players questioned whether the game needed a remaster within four years of its initial release, though others felt it was justified by the additions and price point.[76][77][78]
New gameplay modes include Guitar Free Play, featuring playable characters Ellie, Joel, and Gustavo (modeled after Santaolalla) in several locations with unlockable guitars like Gustavo's banjo;[79] Lost Levels, featuring three scrapped and incomplete gameplay sequences with an introduction by Druckmann and commentary by designers Pete Ellis and Banun Idris;[80] and No Return, a roguelike survival mode featuring randomized combat encounters.[74] No Return features ten playable characters[b] with unique traits and tracked challenges, which can be completed to unlock skins and gameplay modifications.[81] Each run in No Return features five encounters and a boss fight.[82] Encounters consist of four gameplay types, including fighting waves of enemies, capturing a guarded safe, and defending a friend. Upgrades, items, and weapons collected during runs are lost upon completion or failure.[81]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | 93/100[83] |
OpenCritic | 94%[84] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 8.5/10[85] |
Game Informer | 10/10[86] |
GameRevolution | 3.5/5[87] |
GameSpot | 8/10[1] |
GamesRadar+ | 5/5[2] |
IGN | 10/10[5] |
Push Square | 10/10[88] |
USgamer | 4.5/5[8] |
VentureBeat | 95/100[14] |
VG247 | 5/5[7] |
The Last of Us Part II received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic,[83] and 94% of critics recommended the game, according to OpenCritic.[84] It was praised for its improved gameplay,[1][2][87] graphical fidelity,[2][5][86] cast performances,[85][88][89] characters,[1][5][7] audio design,[5][88][90] and music,[86][91][92] though critics were divided on its narrative and themes.[7][8][86][90] IGN's Jonathon Dornbush called it "a masterpiece worthy of its predecessor", noting, atop its improved gameplay, it "still makes time for a stunning, nuanced exploration of the strength and fragility of the human spirit".[5] Game Informer's Andy McNamara called it "the best narrative game I have played" and "a sequel unlike any other, taking video game storytelling to new heights".[86] Kaity Kline of NPR wrote that it "made me very aware of the little things in my life that I take for granted, the kinds of things you don't appreciate until they're ripped away forever".[93] GameSpot's Kallie Plagge called it "beautiful and devastating", and wrote "the more I reflect on it, the more I appreciate the story and characters at its core".[1]
Game Informer's McNamara felt that the writers conveyed the themes "with careful nuance and unflinching emotion".[86] Destructoid's Chris Carter and VG247's Kirk McKeand applauded the use of minor dialogue to echo the themes.[7][85] Sammy Barker of Push Square particularly praised the use of flashback and overlapping stories;[88] The Guardian's Keza MacDonald concurred, describing the narrative as "emotionally effective".[89] Conversely, GameRevolution's Michael Leri thought that the flashbacks were evidence of pacing problems.[87] Alex Avard of GamesRadar+ felt that the narrative lost its momentum during its need to finalize every story thread.[2] USgamer's Kat Bailey found the latter half slow, and that the game was five hours "too long".[8] Bailey also criticized the dissonance between the statement against violence and its necessity during gameplay.[8] Polygon's Maddy Myers and Kotaku's Riley MacLeod wrote that the game repeatedly delivered its themes without allowing the player any agency in their decisions.[3][13] Rob Zacny of Vice wrote that, despite the amount of narrative moments, "it doesn't have much to say".[90] Also writing for Vice, Emanuel Maiberg wrote that the attempts to parallel the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through the WLF and Seraphites were poor, particularly in its allegorical representation of two equal sides.[94]
McKeand of VG247 described every character as "complex and human".[7] Destructoid's Carter felt empathetic to the main characters,[85] a sentiment echoed by IGN's Dornbush, who found Ellie's development particularly "riveting".[5] Andrew Webster of The Verge praised the relationship between Ellie and Dina, though noted some dissonance in Ellie's behavior between gameplay and cutscenes.[95] GameSpot's Plagge wrote that Abby's characterization led to a deeper connection to her than to Ellie, but found her character development incongruous with her "onslaught of combat against human enemies".[1] Kotaku's MacLeod and VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi appreciated the diversity of characters;[13][96] Oli Welsh of Eurogamer praised the representation of female and LGBT characters, calling it "a game about women".[92] NPR's Kline lauded the game's ability to "connect with every character, not just the main characters".[93] Push Square's Barker wrote that the supporting characters "establish themselves extremely swiftly",[88] and Game Informer's McNamara found their occasional absence alarming, having grown close to them.[86] Conversely, some critics felt that the new supporting characters lacked the higher quality of the main characters and of Naughty Dog's previous work;[8][87] Yannick Le Fur of Jeuxvideo.com wrote that characters such as Jesse and Manny were simply used to advance the narrative.[97] Polygon's Myers and Vice's Zacny criticized the characters' inability to learn from their mistakes.[3][90]
Critics praised the cast's performances, particularly those of Ashley Johnson, Troy Baker, and Laura Bailey.[7][85][88][89] Welsh of Eurogamer found Johnson's performance as Ellie to be "standout" due to her depiction of "rawness, vulnerability, and rage".[92] GamesRadar+'s Avard considered Johnson's portrayal of suffering "nothing short of awards worthy", and found that Baker "steals some of Part 2's best scenes as Joel" by adding complexities that enrich the character and relationships.[2] Dornbush of IGN wrote that Johnson added nuance to every element of Ellie, and commended Woodward's performance as Dina, especially during quieter moments.[5] VG247's McKeand found that the performances made the narrative more powerful.[7]
Avard of GamesRadar+ felt that the new gameplay mechanics were added with a level of care to ensure an authenticity that Naughty Dog is known for.[2] GameRevolution's Leri lauded the cohesiveness between gameplay and narrative, and the former's ability to create empathy.[87] Plagge of GameSpot appreciated the intensity of combat and wrote that "Ellie's movements are smooth enough that they almost look scripted".[1] VentureBeat's Takahashi found the combat more diverse than its predecessor's.[14] IGN's Dornbush similarly felt that the combat gameplay and puzzle elements had been improved, praising the intelligence and variation of enemies.[5] Avard of GamesRadar+ described the enemy AI as "some of the most advanced" of any game.[2] McKeand of VG247 considered the level design better than other Naughty Dog games,[7] and McNamara of Game Informer felt that it improved combat scenarios.[86] The Verge's Webster admired the action but noted some "awkward moments when [it] attempts to cover its video game-ness".[95] Polygon's Myers found the combat an unsubtle messenger for its statement on violence;[3] Kotaku's MacLeod wrote that the "pace of the combat sometimes felt like punishment".[13]
Many critics felt the graphics were among the best of any PlayStation 4 game.[2][5][86][87] Kotaku's MacLeod wrote that the nature in Seattle is "gorgeous and awe-inspiring",[13] and Push Square's Barker declared the art department "among the best in the industry".[88] The Guardian's MacDonald described the graphics as "meticulous and astounding".[89] Dornbush of IGN appreciated the world's ability to tell additional stories.[5] GameRevolution's Leri considered the environments more realistic than the first game's, and praised the technical elements, such as frame rate, lack of load times, and realistic lighting.[87] Carter of Destructoid felt that the seamless animation of minor facial expressions humanized the characters to a new level.[85] McNamara of Game Informer similarly lauded the realistic-looking characters.[86] VentureBeat's Takahashi commended the improvements to Naughty Dog's already impressive engine.[14] Zacny of Vice found Seattle too similar to Boston and Pittsburgh from the first game,[90] and Christopher Byrd of The Washington Post wondered if the detail was worth the "human cost" of Naughty Dog's crunch culture.[98]
Barker of Push Square described the sound design as "stunning", identifying the 3D audio as a technical feat he would not have expected until PlayStation 5.[88] Vice's Zacny found that the audio design made settings feel more lifelike in a way that the visuals occasionally failed to do.[90] IGN's Dornbush similarly felt that the sounds added realism, and praised Santaolalla's "moving" score.[5] McNamara of Game Informer found that the music added tension.[86] Kevin Dunsmore of Hardcore Gamer wrote that the "haunting and subtle melodies blend into the world seamlessly".[91] Eurogamer's Welsh praised the score for its combination of banjo and electronics.[92]
Remastered
[edit]Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | 90/100[99] |
OpenCritic | 89%[100] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Hardcore Gamer | 5/5[101] |
NME | 4/5[102] |
PCMag | 5/5[103] |
Push Square | 9/10[104] |
Video Games Chronicle | 5/5[105] |
The Last of Us Part II Remastered received "universal acclaim" according to Metacritic,[99] and 89% of critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.[100] Video Games Chronicle's Jordan Middler called it "the best way to play one of the best games ever made",[105] and Push Square's Aaron Bayne felt it was perfectly partnered with the first game's remake, The Last of Us Part I (2022).[104] Siliconera's Cory Dinkel wrote it "does far more than simply justify its existence on the PS5, it elevates an already near-perfect experience".[106] Digital Trends's Giovanni Colantonio compared it to a Criterion Collection re-release[107] and The Guardian's Keith Stuart compared replaying the game to "rereading a favourite novel".[108]
Destructoid's Smangaliso Simelane wrote that few console games look as "beautifully detailed and borderline photorealistic" as Remastered;[109] Siliconera's Dinkel compared the cinematography to the work of Roger Deakins and felt the improved character animations enhanced the story,[106] and Variety's Katcy Stephan praised the visual and performance improvements for enhancing the narrative immersion.[110] Some reviewers found the visual changes negligible but unnecessary due to the original's quality.[103][111][112] The use of the DualSense's haptic technology was considered by Video Games Chronicle's Middler the best since Astro's Playroom (2020)[105] and by Siliconera's Dinkel the best of any game to date,[106] while Inverse's Kazuma Hashimoto found it strenuous after extended use.[111]
GamingBolt's Shubhankar Parijat considered No Return Remastered's standout feature.[113] Several reviewers found the mode addictive and felt it added value and replayability,[101][106][110] demonstrating the quality of the game's combat elements;[109][103][114] Push Square's Bayne lauded its pacing and length.[104] Some found the mode incongruous with the narrative's themes discouraging violence and felt it lacked the thematic and narrative justification of God of War Ragnarök's roguelike mode,[103][107][114] while others found its gameplay repetitive and upgrades inconsequential.[103][111][107] No Return's gameplay elements drew comparisons to the canceled multiplayer game The Last of Us Online.[107][115] The scrapped levels and audio commentary were praised for providing insight into the development process,[109][107][110] named by some as Remastered's standout feature;[105][106][114] Push Square's Bayne hoped other developers would imitate it.[104] Several reviewers lauded the US$10 price point for existing owners.[109][103][105]
Audience response
[edit]The Last of Us Part II was the subject of review bombing on Metacritic, resulting in a user review score of 3.4/10 at its nadir.[116][117] Reporters noticed the review bombing occurred shortly after the game launched—too early for users to feasibly have finished it;[118] some suggested that the reviews were based on the incomplete plot leaks.[97][117] Many negative reviews criticized the characterization and plot;[116][118] some complained of "social justice warrior" politics, with vitriolic responses to LGBT characters.[97][116] CNET's Daniel Van Boom wrote that the review bombers did not represent the majority of players,[119] while Kotaku's MacLeod identified thousands of positive reviews and felt Metacritic's system, which emphasizes scores over critique, comprised only "a bunch of meaningless numbers and a lot of rage".[118] The incident led Metacritic to implement a 36-hour waiting period after release before allowing user reviews.[120]
Some players criticized Joel's death in the opening hours, perceiving a discrepancy between his cautious nature in the first game and his more trustful and protective attitude in Part II.[121][122] Den of Geek's Matthew Byrd wrote that Joel had protected young women in the past, so his trusting of Abby in Part II was not "entirely unreasonable".[121] Sam Clench of News.com.au also argued that Joel's time in Jackson had realistically made him less cynical over the years.[122] A number of players considered Joel's brutal and undignified death "disrespectful";[122][123][124] Clench rebutted that it was realistic, as most real deaths occur at unfortunate times, and described the scene as "extremely strong, purposeful writing".[122] Josh Hawkins of Shacknews wrote that Joel's death was a fitting retribution for his brutal actions and murders.[124] Some players felt the marketing, which had altered and replaced characters in trailers to conceal Joel's death and Abby's role, constituted false advertising;[119][121][123] Druckmann responded that Naughty Dog had intended to preserve the game experience, "not to bamboozle anyone or get their $60".[64]
A subset of players criticized Abby and disapproved of her playable chapters as they had expected to control Ellie for the majority of the game.[121][125][126] Collider's Dave Trumbore felt Abby had been unfairly maligned by audiences who had failed to understand the story's message.[127] Some players criticized Abby's muscular physique, and theories spread online that she was transgender; The Independent's Amy Coles and Polygon's Patricia Hernandez argued that this perception was a result of the lack of body diversity in games, and that the story showed Abby had the resources to achieve her physique.[126][128] Coles observed that these arguments were propagated by "a loud and determinedly misogynistic subset" of players.[126] Laura Bailey, who played Abby, became the target of online death threats in response to the character;[129] Naughty Dog released a statement condemning the threats, and Bailey was supported by James Gunn, Ashley Johnson, and Craig Mazin, among others.[130]
Some members of the transgender community objected to the representation of Lev, a transgender supporting character. Criticism focused on villains using Lev's deadname, that the character was created by cisgender writers, and the use of trans stories as tragedies.[131][132] Stacey Henley of VG247 responded that Lev's deadname is used sparingly and that Ian Alexander, a transgender actor, provides the character's voice and motion capture.[131] Writing for Paste, Waverly praised the choice to have Lev played by a transgender actor, but felt there was too much emphasis on his gender identity and the suffering he experienced for it. Waverly felt that "Lev's story isn't made for trans people, but to give cisgender players a space to connect with their guilt and pity for trans people".[133] Henley wrote that, while Lev's story is imperfect, it is "a major step for trans characters in gaming, [and] focuses on a highly charismatic and central character who is far more than this transness".[131] Kotaku's MacLeod saw Lev's character as simply a way of acknowledging that trans people exist in the game's universe and wrote that it was up to the player to create their own meaning from the character.[134] Alexander acknowledged the writers "might have missed the mark a little bit" regarding the use of Lev's deadname but felt Abby's response[c] reflected the importance of allowing trans individuals the agency to discuss their gender on their own terms.[135]
A year after the game's release, Collider's Trumbore identified a subset of players that continued to criticize the game and its legacy, comparing it to some audience complaints about Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), though recognized it was "quieter" than at launch.[136] On Reddit, users of the subreddit r/TheLastOfUs2 continued posting hateful and discriminatory content denouncing the game several years after release, including complaints about its diversity.[137][138] In July 2021, a user of the subreddit claimed they received death threats from fans of YouTube channel Girlfriend Reviews, who had posted positive videos about the game; following targeted harassment from the subreddit, Girlfriend Reviews discovered the threats were fabricated by the user.[138][139]
Developer response
[edit]Polygon's Hernandez observed that the discourse surrounding The Last of Us Part II had become adversarial, with "bigots" attacking the game for its diverse cast and Naughty Dog becoming defensive.[140] Vice's Zacny claimed that, in response to his critical review, Sony contacted him on behalf of Naughty Dog to discuss his criticisms, which they disagreed with; Zacny said the discussion, while cordial, was unusual from a large publisher.[140] On Twitter, Druckmann expressed disapproval after journalist Jason Schreier mocked a reviewer's comparison of Part II to Schindler's List (1993); Schreier felt his reporting on Naughty Dog's crunch conditions prompted Druckmann's disapproval.[141] A different tweet from Schreier stated that "video games are too long", which he later clarified was criticizing longer games being made for marketing purposes; Baker responded to the original tweet with a quote from US president Theodore Roosevelt about critics being less valuable than creators, which Schreier felt was an overreaction.[140] Hernandez concluded that critics fearing backlash from publishers and fans was "not an environment that is conducive to encouraging honest reviews or critical discussion, which is ultimately a disservice to the game itself".[140] USgamer's Bailey wrote that the strict review embargo prevented meaningful discussion of the narrative.[142] Druckmann acknowledged the leaks prompted the embargo as he had felt reviews discussing plot details would have become more harmful and widespread than the leaks.[64]
Accolades
[edit]The Last of Us Part II won more than 320 Game of the Year awards,[143] which several outlets claimed broke the record set by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015);[144][145][146] it was later surpassed by Elden Ring (2022).[143][147] The game was awarded from outlets and shows such as Den of Geek,[148] Digital Trends,[149] Electronic Gaming Monthly,[150] Empire,[151] Entertainment Weekly,[152] Game Informer,[153] PlayStation Blog,[154] Push Square,[155] and the Titanium Awards.[156] It was named runner-up by several other publications.[157][158][159][160] At the 38th Golden Joystick Awards in November 2020, it won all six awards for which it was nominated: Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Audio, Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, PlayStation Game of the Year, and Studio of the Year for Naughty Dog.[161] It led the nominees for The Game Awards 2020 with eleven nominations,[162] of which it won seven, the most in the show's history: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, Innovation in Accessibility, Best Action/Adventure, and Best Performance (for Bailey).[163]
The Last of Us Part II was nominated for twenty-four awards at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards, the most in the show's history;[164] it won eight, including Outstanding Direction in a Game Cinema, Franchise Adventure Game, Lead Performance in a Drama (for Johnson and Bailey), and Supporting Performance in a Drama (for Baker).[165] It was nominated for thirteen awards at the 17th British Academy Games Awards, the most in the show's history,[166] winning for Animation, the publicly voted EE Game of the Year, and Performer in a Leading Role (for Bailey).[167] It led the nominees at the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards with eleven nominations,[168] of which it won two: Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Achievement in Story.[169] It also led the 19th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards with fifteen nominations and eight wins,[170] and the 21st Game Developers Choice Awards with six nominations,[d] of which it won one.[172] It received the most nominations at the inaugural Global Industry Game Awards with thirteen,[173] of which it won three: 3D Animation, Cinematography, and Story.[174]
Sales
[edit]In its release weekend, The Last of Us Part II sold over four million copies worldwide, becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation 4 exclusive, beating Marvel's Spider-Man's 3.3 million and God of War's 3.1 million in the same period.[175][176] It had the biggest launch of 2020 for both physical and digital sales.[177] On the PlayStation Store, it was the most-downloaded PlayStation 4 game in North America and Europe in June;[178] in July, it was fifth in North America and tenth in Europe;[179] in November, it was the eighth in North America and seventh in Europe;[180] and overall for 2020, it ranked sixth in North America and eighth in Europe.[181] In the United States, it was the best-selling game of June 2020 and became the third-best-selling game of the year within two weeks, generating the highest first-month sales of the year.[182] By August 2020, it had become the third-highest-grossing PlayStation game in the United States, behind Marvel's Spider-Man and God of War.[183] Overall, it was the sixth-best-selling game of the year in the United States;[184] it was the third-best-selling for PlayStation consoles, and the best-selling PlayStation 4-only game.[185] By June 2022, the game had sold over ten million copies worldwide.[186]
In the United Kingdom, The Last of Us Part II became the fastest-selling physical PlayStation 4 game, outselling previous record holder Uncharted 4 by at least one percent and The Last of Us by 76 percent;[187] it was the nation's eighth-best-selling game of the year with 543,218 copies sold,[188] and the seventh for physical sales.[189] A price discount in February 2021 saw it re-enter the UK physical charts in third place, representing a 3,992 percent increase.[190] In Japan, The Last of Us Part II was the best-selling game during its first week, selling an estimated 178,696 physical copies.[191] In Germany, it sold over 200,000 copies in June 2020[192] and 500,000 by December 2020.[193] In Australia, it was the eighth-best-selling of the year, and the third for physical sales.[194]
Legacy
[edit]Critics concurred that The Last of Us Part II was among the best games of the eighth generation of video game consoles[195] and a great closing title before the ninth.[91][115][196][197] An internal review by Sony's competitor Microsoft—published as a court document in the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit in 2021—said the game "sets a new bar for what we should hope to be able to achieve going into a new generation of consoles".[198][199] Many outlets considered it among the greatest video games ever made,[200] and some called it one of the best-written.[201][202]
The Last of Us Part II is expected to be adapted into multiple seasons of the television adaptation of The Last of Us, starting with the second season,[203] set to premiere in 2025.[204] Druckmann and series co-showrunner Craig Mazin wanted to avoid filler between the seasons, jumping into adapting the sequel immediately.[205] Mazin confirmed plans for a "significantly larger" third season if the second is successful, and suspected Part II's story may require a fourth.[206] Kaitlyn Dever is cast as Abby in the series,[207] alongside Young Mazino as Jesse[208] and Isabela Merced as Dina.[209] Jeffrey Wright is set to reprise his role as Isaac from the game.[210]
Druckmann and Gross wrote an outline for a story set after Part II by April 2021, but noted it was not in active development.[211] Druckmann later clarified the outline was for a "small story" focused on Tommy, rather than a full sequel to Part II ; he felt it would eventually be released, possibly as a game or television series.[212] In 2023, Druckmann confirmed he had a concept for a third main game in the series that is thematically consistent with the first two games, stating there is "probably one more chapter to this story".[212]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Formerly known as Outbreak Day, but changed in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic[70]
- ^ No Return's playable characters are Ellie, Dina, Jesse, Joel, Tommy, Abby, Lev, Yara, Mel, and Manny.[81]
- ^ After enemies use Lev's deadname, Lev asks Abby "Do you want to ask me about it?" to which Abby responds "Do you want me to ask you about it?"[135]
- ^ Tied with Ghost of Tsushima and Hades[171]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Plagge, Kallie (June 25, 2020). "The Last Of Us Part 2 Spoiler Review - Dog Eat Dog". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Avard, Alex (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 Review: "An Astonishing, Absurdly Ambitious Epic"". GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Myers, Maddy (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 review: We're better than this". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Gill, Patrick (June 19, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 guide: Jackson collectibles". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Dornbush, Jonathon (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Barbosa, Alessandro (August 11, 2020). "The Complex System Behind One of The Last of Us 2's Most Satisfying Details". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i McKeand, Kirk (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 review – a generation-defining masterpiece". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Bailey, Kat (June 16, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 Review: An Emotional Reckoning And a Worthy Sequel". USgamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Weber, Rachel (September 26, 2019). "The Last of Us 2 makes you feel like the monster". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (June 18, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II — Tips and tricks for surviving the apocalypse". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Hornshaw, Phil (June 30, 2020). "The Last Of Us Part 2 Workbench Locations - Where To Find All Workbenches". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Tran, Edmond (June 7, 2020). "The Last Of Us 2 Preview: Brutal And Ruthless". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e MacLeod, Riley (June 22, 2020). "The Last Of Us Part 2 : The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Takahashi, Dean (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II review: A brilliant game that is not what it seems". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Plagge, Kallie (June 21, 2018). "What The Last Of Us 2 Adds To Combat--And To Ellie". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ St Leger, Henry (October 1, 2019). "The Last of Us 2 companions can take out enemies for you". TechRadar. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ Tucker, Ian, ed. (June 2020), The Art of The Last of Us Part II, United States of America: Dark Horse Comics, p. 161
- ^ Hornshaw, Phil (July 8, 2020). "Last of Us 2's Ending Explained - Everything That Happens And Why". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ Spicer, Christian; Druckmann, Neil; Gross, Halley; Margenau, Kurt; Newman, Anthony; Soria, Almudena; Neonakis, Alexandria (July 7, 2020). ""Take on me" - Behind Part II". The Official The Last of Us Podcast (Podcast). Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ a b Turi, Tim (October 9, 2019). "Neil Druckmann Discusses New The Last of Us Part II Details". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ Kim, Matt (April 17, 2019). "The Last of Us Part 2 Has Finished Shooting Its Final Scene". USGamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Druckmann, Neil (October 30, 2017). "The Last of Us Part II Interview: A New Look at the World of The Last of Us". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
... we put out a little game called Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. And with that finally out there and people playing it and enjoying it, the entire studio is now on The Last of Us Part II. We're in full production.
- ^ a b c d e f White, Sam (June 9, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II : how Naughty Dog made a classic amidst catastrophe". GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Boatman, Brandon (April 15, 2017). "The Last of Us Part II MoCap Has Begun Shooting". Hardcore Gamer. DoubleJump Publishing. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (September 27, 2019). "The Last of Us Part 2 Creative Director on Joel's Role, Ellie's New Relationship". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Wells, Evan (March 9, 2018). "An Update from Studio President Evan Wells". Naughty Dog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ Goldberg, Harold (September 26, 2019). "Breaking: Our New Last Of Us Part II Podcast Discusses All The New Gameplay With Naughty Dog's Co-Game Director!". New York Videogame Critics Circle. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Maher, Cian (July 27, 2020). "Over 2,000 people and 14 studios worked on The Last of Us Part 2". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ Wood, Austin (June 28, 2023). "PlayStation accidentally reveals $200m+ development costs for Horizon Forbidden West and The Last of Us Part 2". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c Juba, Joe (June 1, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Interview – Adding Depth, Staying Grounded, And The Cost Of Revenge". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Wilson, Aoife (June 5, 2020). "There are games that are just comfort food. This is not one of those". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ Dougherty, Conor (June 19, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Is a Dark Game for a Dark Time". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ Favis, Elise (July 1, 2020). "Naughty Dog details Ellie's dark and turbulent evolution". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b King, Darryn (June 10, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II and Its Crisis-Strewn Path to Release". Wired. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Druckmann, Neil (December 3, 2016). "The Last of Us Part II". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- ^ Miller, Greg; Bailey, Laura (June 29, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II : Laura Bailey on "The Scene"". We Have Cool Friends (Podcast). Kinda Funny. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ White, Sam (June 23, 2020). "Behind the scenes: One week on the set of The Last of Us Part 2". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ Holmberg, Mathias (June 15, 2018). "The Last of Us: Part II - Halley Gross E3 Interview". Gamereactor. Gamez Publishing A/S. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (June 22, 2020). "Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross Open Up About the Biggest Twists of The Last of Us Part II". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Aoife (July 1, 2020). "A spoiler-heavy interview with The Last of Us Part 2 director Neil Druckmann". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Bishop, Sam (September 27, 2019). "Naughty Dog on the Changing World of The Last of Us". Gamereactor. Gamez Publishing A/S. Archived from the original on September 30, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon; O'Brien, Lucy; Druckmann, Neil; Gross, Halley (June 25, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 : Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross Interview". Beyond! (Podcast). IGN. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (June 1, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Isn't Just Naughty Dog's Most Ambitious Game — It's the Most Accessible, Too". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ Pereira, Chris (December 3, 2016). "In The Last of Us: Part 2, You Play as Ellie". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- ^ Miller, Greg; Druckmann, Neil; Johnson, Ashley; Baker, Troy (June 25, 2020). "Last of Us 2 Spoilercast". Gamescast (Podcast). Kinda Funny. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Co, Alex (July 3, 2020). "Naughty Dog Devs Explain the Audio Work Behind The Last of Us 2 Shamblers and Whistles". SP1st. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Schreier, Jason (March 12, 2020). "As Naughty Dog Crunches On The Last Of Us II, Developers Wonder How Much Longer This Approach Can Last". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ Baker, Troy; Druckmann, Neil (July 15, 2020). "Let's Get Into It with Neil Druckmann". LeGiT (Podcast). Relater. Event occurs at 1:22:28. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, Lucy; Druckmann, Neil; Newman, Anthony; Margenau, Kurt; Johnson, Ashley; Woodward, Shannon (June 12, 2018). E3 Coliseum: The Last of Us Part II Panel. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Stedman, Alex (September 24, 2019). "The Last of Us Part II Reveals 2020 Release Date in New Trailer". Variety. Penske Corporation. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (October 25, 2019). "The Last of Us Part 2 Release Date Delayed to May". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Peters, Jay (April 2, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II delayed indefinitely due to novel coronavirus". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ Hernandez, Patricia (April 27, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 leak seems to show massive spoilers". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Hulst, Herman (April 27, 2020). "Release Date Updates For The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Robinson, Martin (December 3, 2016). "Ellie is the lead character in The Last of Us Part 2". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- ^ Osborn, Alex (October 30, 2017). "The Last of Us 2 Voice Cast Revealed". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ Saed, Sherif (October 30, 2017). "The Last of Us Part 2 trailer is maybe the best thing shown today – watch it here". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (June 12, 2018). "A Kiss Has Been One Of The Stars Of 2018". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Sheridan, Connor (September 24, 2019). "The Last of Us Part 2 trailer brutally reveals why Ellie's killing everybody". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Lowe, Scott (September 26, 2019). "The Last of Us Part II : Outbreak Day 2019". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ McWhertor, Michael (May 6, 2020). "New The Last of Us Part 2 trailer is a grim look at Ellie's revenge tale". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Winslow, Jeremy (June 2, 2020). "The Last Of Us Part 2's New Extended Commercial Features Ellie Singing A Lovely Tune". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ McIntyre, Brandon (June 10, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II launch trailer shows a vengeful Ellie". Digital Trends. Designtechnica. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c Leri, Michael (June 25, 2020). "The Last of Us 2 director explains its strict review embargo and sneaky trailers". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- ^ Druckmann, Neil (September 24, 2019). "The Last of Us Part II Arrives on February 21, 2020". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Hussain, Tamoor (May 29, 2020). "The Last Of Us Part 2's State Of Play: Brutal Combat And Other Gameplay Details". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Lowe, Scott (May 13, 2020). "Introducing "Inside The Last of Us Part II" Video Series". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Maher, Cian (June 21, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 is banned in the UAE because of Ellie and Dina's relationship". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (August 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 Permadeath Mode, Grounded Difficulty Available This Week". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (September 23, 2020). "Naughty Dog Changes The Last of Us' Outbreak Day Name, Will Have Announcements This Weekend". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ Lowe, Scott (September 25, 2020). "The Last of Us Day 2020 Preview: Celebrate with New Posters, Collectibles, and More". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ Skrebels, Joe (May 19, 2021). "The Last of Us Part 2 Is Getting a PS5 Exclusive Performance Update". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ Wales, Matt (January 26, 2024). "The Last of Us Part 2's making-of documentary arrives next week". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dornbush, Jonathon (November 17, 2023). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered coming to PS5 on January 19, 2024". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (January 16, 2024). "Dive deeper into new The Last of Us Part II Remastered features, out Jan 19". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (November 19, 2023). "Does The Last of Us 2 Need a PS5 Remaster?". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Zwiezen, Zack (November 20, 2023). "Kotaku Asks: How Soon Is Too Soon For A Video Game Remaster Or Remake?". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Sinha, Ravi (November 21, 2023). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered – In Defense of Naughty Dog's Next PS5 Release". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Claire (January 16, 2024). "The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered Features Cut Levels, Roguelike Mode, And Accessibility Settings". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Ali (January 17, 2024). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Lost Levels offer a fascinating peek behind the gamedev curtain". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Dornbush, Jonathon (December 5, 2023). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Exploring the roguelike survival mode, No Return". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ Marks, Tom (December 5, 2023). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Roguelike Mode Is More Than Just a Novelty". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Last of Us Part II". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ a b "The Last of Us Part II Reviews". OpenCritic. June 12, 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Carter, Chris (June 18, 2020). "Review: The Last of Us Part II". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McNamara, Andy (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Review – A Perfect Circle". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Leri, Michael (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us 2 Review | A Bloater stuffed to the brim". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Barker, Sammy (June 19, 2020). "The Last of Us: Part II Review". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d MacDonald, Keza (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 review – post-apocalyptic game is groundbreaking and powerful". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Zacny, Rob (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Is a Grim and Bloody Spectacle, but a Poor Sequel". Vice. Vice Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Dunsmore, Kevin (June 12, 2020). "Review: The Last of Us Part II". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Welsh, Oli (June 16, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 review - a gut-wrenching sequel". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Kline, Kaity (June 18, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II Is A Gut Punch That Just Keeps Punching". NPR. National Public Radio, Inc. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Maiberg, Emanuel (July 16, 2020). "The Not So Hidden Israeli Politics of The Last of Us Part II". Vice. Vice Media. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Webster, Andrew (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II is Uncomfortable and Exhausting, But That's What Makes it Great". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (July 13, 2020). "Why the story of The Last of Us Part II is maddening and fulfilling (spoilers)". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c Le Fur, Yannick (June 22, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II : Entre histoire viscérale et review bombing" [The Last of Us Part II : Between visceral history and review bombing]. Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Byrd, Christopher (June 12, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II : One of the best video games ever made". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "The Last of Us Part II Remastered". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Last of Us Part II Remastered Reviews". OpenCritic. January 16, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Dunsmore, Kevin (January 16, 2024). "Review: The Last of Us Part II Remastered". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Brown, Andy (January 16, 2024). "The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered review: depressing, but worth it". NME. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Cuevas, Zackery (January 17, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered – Review 2024". PCMag. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Bayne, Aaron (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered Review". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Middler, Jordan (January 16, 2024). "Review: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is much more than a $10 graphics patch". Video Games Chronicle. 1981 Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Dinkel, Cory (January 16, 2024). "Review: The Last of Us Part II Remastered Elevates a Work of Art". Siliconera. Gamurs. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Colantonio, Giovanni (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered turns the original game into a cruel punch line". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Stuart, Keith (January 25, 2024). "Pushing Buttons: I hated going back to games – until The Last of Us Part II Remastered came along". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Simelane, Smangaliso (January 16, 2024). "Review: The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Stephan, Katcy (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered Review: Naughty Dog Improves on Perfection". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hashimoto, Kazuma (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II Didn't Need a Remaster — But It Got One Anyway". Inverse. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Glennon, Jen (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II Remastered: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Parijat, Shubhankar (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Review – I'd Do it All Over Again". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Webster, Andrew (January 16, 2024). "There are two great reasons to upgrade to The Last of Us Part II Remastered". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Park, Gene (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part II, remastered and dehumanized". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nunneley, Stephany (June 19, 2020). "The Last of Us: Part 2 has been review bombed on Metacritic". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ a b Croft, Liam (June 20, 2020). "The Last of Us 2 Review Bombing Continues, Online Discourse Increasingly Ugly". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ a b c MacLeod, Riley (June 20, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2's Metacritic Page Shows How Broken Numerical Scores Are". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Van Boom, Daniel (June 23, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 is getting internet hate. You can ignore it". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Fisher, Christine (July 18, 2020). "Metacritic changes its user review policy to combat score bombing". Engadget. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Byrd, Matthew (June 22, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 : Why Some Players Hate This Sequel". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Clench, Sam (July 10, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 : Why the hate for its story and ending is so wrong". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b Alhadad, Zahra (November 6, 2020). "An Infected Start: A Look Into the Last of Us Part 2 Hate and Backlash". IGN Southeast Asia. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Hawkins, Josh (June 24, 2020). "The Last of Us didn't need a sequel, but I'm glad we got one". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ MacLeod, Riley; Notis, Ari (June 19, 2020). "Here's The Deal With The Last Of Us Part 2". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Coles, Amy (July 9, 2020). "The rampant body-shaming of Abby in The Last of Us Part II shows gamers still can't accept a realistic female lead". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ Trumbore, Dave (July 3, 2020). "Why The Last of Us: Part II Deserves to Be in the 'Game of the Year' Conversation". Collider. Valnet. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Hernandez, Patricia (July 1, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 proves gaming doesn't know how to deal with muscular women". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Khan, Asif (July 3, 2020). "Last of Us 2 voice actor Laura Bailey shares death threats on Twitter". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Hernandez, Patricia (July 6, 2020). "The Last of Us 2 devs Naughty Dog condemns harassment, death threats". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c Henley, Stacey (June 23, 2020). "Lev, The Last of Us Part 2, and imperfectly important representation (spoilers)". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (July 8, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II brings queer stories to a pandemic-ravaged dystopia". NBC News. NBCUniversal. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ Waverly (June 29, 2020). "The Cisgender Voyeurism of The Last of Us Part II". Paste. Paste Media Group. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ MacLeod, Riley (July 3, 2020). "I Have Mixed Feelings About The Last Of Us Part 2's Trans Character". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Bigley, James II (June 24, 2021). "The Untold Story Behind Lev's Voice in The Last of Us Part II". Wired. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Trumbore, Dave (June 19, 2021). "The Last of Us: Part II : One Year Later and the Worst Takes Still Remain". Collider. Valnet. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Letizi, Robert; Norman, Callan (April 11, 2023). ""You Took That From Me": Conspiracism and Online Harassment in the Alt-Fandom of The Last of Us Part II". Games and Culture. 19 (4): 513–534. doi:10.1177/15554120231168745.
- ^ a b Walker, Ian (July 27, 2021). "Nasty YouTube Death Threat Hoax Has A Happy Ending". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Cassidy, Ruth (July 26, 2021). "A gaming subreddit's harassment campaign peaked when a member faked death threats to themselves". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Hernandez, Patricia (June 30, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 has become a minefield". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Plante, Corey (May 7, 2021). "Jason Schreier: We need adversarial reporting on video games, ASAP". Inverse. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Bailey, Kat (June 22, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2's Overly Limiting Embargo Only Hurts Critical Discourse". USgamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Cryer, Hirun (January 3, 2023). "Elden Ring surpasses The Last of Us 2 as the most-awarded Game of the Year recipient". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Calvin, Alex (January 26, 2021). "The Last of Us Part 2 has more game of the year awards than The Witcher 3, the previous record holder". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ Wald, Heather (January 26, 2021). "The Last of Us 2 overtakes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to become the most awarded game ever". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Ramsey, Robert (January 27, 2021). "The Last of Us 2 Surpasses The Witcher 3 as the Most Awarded Game in History". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Ramsey, Robert (January 3, 2023). "Elden Ring Dominates God of War Ragnarok in GOTY Awards, Breaks The Last of Us 2's Record". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Byrd, Matthew; Boo, Bernard; Freiberg, Chris; Potter, Aaron (December 21, 2020). "The Best Games of 2020". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (December 9, 2020). "Staff Picks: DT's favorite video game of 2020". Digital Trends. Designtechnica. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Harmon, Josh (January 1, 2021). "EGM's Best of 2020: #1 The Last of Us Part II". Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ Dyer, James; Kamen, Matt (December 10, 2020). "The Best Video Games Of 2020". Empire. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Nick; Lewis, Evan (December 18, 2020). "The best videogames of 2020". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Juba, Joe (December 22, 2020). "The Top 10 Games Of 2020 – #1 The Last of Us Part II". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Massongill, Justin (December 18, 2020). "PlayStation.Blog 2020 Game of the Year: The winners". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Croft, Liam (January 1, 2021). "Game of the Year: #1 - The Last of Us: Part II". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ Soriano, David (December 12, 2020). "Todos los ganadores de los Premios Titanium de Fun & Serious Game Festival" [All winners of the Fun & Serious Game Festival Titanium Awards]. IGN España (in Spanish). Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "The 25 best games of 2020". GamesRadar. Future plc. December 21, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "IGN's Game of the Year 2020". IGN. Ziff Davis. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Austin, Patrick Lucas; Dockterman, Eliana; Clark, Peter Allen; Fitzpatrick, Alex (November 20, 2020). "The 10 Best Video Games of 2020". Time. Time USA, LLC. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "The best games of 2020". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Tyrer, Ben (November 24, 2020). "Every winner at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020". GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Park, Gene (November 18, 2020). "Here are the nominees for The Game Awards 2020". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ Stedman, Alex (December 10, 2020). "The Game Awards 2020: Complete Winners List". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Błażewicz, Jakub (January 20, 2021). "The Last of Us 2 z rekordową liczbą nominacji NAVGTR" [The Last of Us 2 with a record number of NAVGTR nominations]. Gry Online (in Polish). Webedia. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ Kirakosyan, Georgy (February 23, 2021). "Ghost of Tsushima стала игрой года по версии NAVGTR Awards" [Ghost of Tsushima named NAVGTR Awards Game of the Year]. Igromania (in Russian). Igromedia. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ Ankers, Adele (March 2, 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 25, 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards: Supergiant Games' Hades Takes Home Top Prize — Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Nunneley, Stephany (January 26, 2021). "2021 DICE Awards: Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us: Part 2 lead with the most nominations". VG247. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ Denzer, TJ (April 22, 2021). "The D.I.C.E. Awards 2021 winners & finalists". Shacknews. Gamerhub. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ Ferme, Antonio (April 28, 2021). "G.A.N.G. Awards Winners: The Last of Us Part II Leads With Eight Wins". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Rousseau (April 20, 2021). "Hades, Ghost of Tsushima, and Last of Us Part 2 lead GDC Award nominees". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (July 21, 2021). "Hades Takes Top Honor at Game Developers Choice Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. MRC. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (July 8, 2021). "Global Industry Game Awards Spotlights Unsung Dev Heroes Of The Last of Us Part 2 And Other 2020 Games". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Scullion, Chris (August 31, 2021). "Hades wins 9 times at the IGDA Global Industry Game Awards". Video Games Chronicle. 1981 Media. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Lempel, Eric (June 26, 2020). "The Last of Us Part II sells more than 4 million copies". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Tailby, Stephen (June 26, 2020). "The Last of Us 2 Is the Fastest Selling PS4 Exclusive Ever, Over 4 Million Sold in Three Days". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Blake, Vikki (July 18, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 is not only 2020's biggest launch to date, it's also Sony's second-biggest launch ever". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ Massongill, Justin (July 8, 2020). "PlayStation Store: June's top downloads". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ McAllister, Gillen (August 6, 2020). "PlayStation Store: July's top downloads". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ Massongill, Justin (December 9, 2020). "PlayStation Store: November 2020's top downloads". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Elston, Brett (January 13, 2021). "PlayStation Store: Top downloads of 2020". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Bankhurst, Adam (July 18, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 Had the Biggest First Month of Any 2020 Game in the US". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ Blake, Vikki (August 16, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 is the third highest-grossing game in the US in PlayStation history". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ Grubb, Jeff (January 15, 2021). "NPD reveals the best-selling games of 2020 in the U.S." VentureBeat. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Croft, Liam (January 16, 2021). "The Last of Us 2 Was the Best-Selling PS4 Exclusive of 2020 in the US". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ Snyder, Rochelle (June 9, 2022). "The Growing Future of The Last of Us". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (June 21, 2020). "The Last of Us Part 2 smashes sales records - UK Charts". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (March 4, 2021). "PS5 and Xbox Series sold 800,000 consoles in the UK last year". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (January 11, 2021). "43 million games sold in the UK in 2020 | UK Annual Report". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (February 28, 2021). "PS5 stock boost sends Spider-Man: Miles Morales to No. 2 | UK Boxed Charts". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Romano, Sal (June 25, 2020). "Famitsu Sales: 6/15/20 – 6/21/20". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "Von schnellen Rhythmen bis zu leisen Tönen: Die game Sales Awards im Juni" [From fast rhythms to soft tones: the game sales awards in June]. Game.de (in German). German Games Industry Association. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ "Game Sales Awards Dezember 2020" [Game Sales Awards December 2020]. Game.de (in German). German Games Industry Association. January 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Dring, Christopher (January 15, 2021). "Nintendo and GTA 5 come top in big year for Australia game sales | Australia Annual Report". Gamesindustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^
- "The Best Games of the PS4/Xbox One Generation". IGN. Ziff Davis. December 31, 2020. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- "GamesRadar's 100 best games of the generation". GamesRadar. Future plc. December 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- Juba, Joe (October 2, 2020). "Game Informer's Best Games of the Generation". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- Martin, Garrett (February 14, 2024). "The 50 Best PlayStation 4 Games". Paste. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- Parijat, Shubhankar (January 15, 2021). "15 Best Games of the 8th Console Generation". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- Ramsey, Robert; Barker, Sammy; Tailby, Stephen; Croft, Liam (January 9, 2024). "Best PS4 Games". Push Square. Hookshot Media. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Mackenzie, Oliver (January 16, 2024). "The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered delivers an accomplished upgrade for PlayStation 5". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Onder, Cade (June 24, 2020). "Review: The Last of Us Part II is a bold yet flawed swan song for PS4". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Andy (May 3, 2021). "Court docs reveal Xbox's internal Last of Us 2 review: 'Sets a new bar for what we hope to achieve'". Video Games Chronicle. 1981 Media. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Singh, Surej (May 4, 2021). "Microsoft says The Last of Us Part II set 'a new bar' in leaked internal review". NME. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^
- "The 100 best video games of all time, ranked". USA Today. Gannett. September 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- Dornbush, Jonathon. "Top 100 Video Games of All Time". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- Murrian, Samuel L. (January 15, 2023). "We Ranked the 25 Best Video Games of All Time, From The Last of Us to Minecraft". Parade. The Arena Group. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- Tones, John; Carabaña, Carlos (December 5, 2020). "Los 100 mejores videojuegos de la historia" [The 100 best video games in history]. GQ España (in Spanish). Condé Nast. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- White, Sam; Leedham, Robert (May 10, 2023). "The 100 greatest video games of all time, ranked by experts". British GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ Carpou, Madeline; Doyle, Jack (June 2, 2022). "These Are 10 of the Best Written Video Game Stories of All Time". The Mary Sue. Gamurs Group. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ McKeand, Kirk (May 30, 2022). "The best story-driven video games to play in 2022". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ White, Sam (March 13, 2023). "The Last of Us finale writers on that cliffhanger ending and Joel's John Wick moment". British GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Vasani, Sheena (December 6, 2023). "The second season of The Last of Us will debut in 2025". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Hibberd, James (January 4, 2023). "How The Last of Us Plans to Bring the Zombie Genre Back to Life". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 5, 2024). "The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode Count Revealed As Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann Explain Decision & Tease Additional Seasons". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Hibberd, James (January 9, 2024). "Kaitlyn Dever Officially Cast in The Last of Us Season 2 as Abby". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (January 10, 2024). "Last of Us Season 2 Casts Beef Star Young Mazino as Jesse". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2024). "The Last Of Us: Isabela Merced Cast As Dina In Season 2 Of HBO Series". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Campione, Katie (May 24, 2024). "Jeffrey Wright Cast As Isaac In The Last Of Us Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Skrebels, Joe (April 28, 2021). "The Last of Us: Part 3 Has a Plot, But It's Not Being Made... Yet". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Lyes, Taylor; Stedman, Alex (February 2, 2024). "Neil Druckmann Teases 'Concept' for The Last of Us Part 3: 'There's Probably One More Chapter to This Story'". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Articles with BNFdata identifiers
- 2020 video games
- 2020s horror video games
- Action-adventure games
- Fiction about post-traumatic stress disorder
- The Game Award for Game of the Year winners
- GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Video Game winners
- Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year winners
- Grief in fiction
- Japan Game Award winners
- The Last of Us
- LGBT-related controversies in video games
- LGBT-related video games
- Naughty Dog games
- PlayStation 4 games
- PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games
- PlayStation 5 enhanced games
- Post-apocalyptic video games
- Single-player video games
- Sony Interactive Entertainment games
- Stealth video games
- Survival video games
- Third-person shooters
- Transgender-related video games
- Video game controversies
- Video game sequels
- Video games about cults
- Video games about revenge
- Video games about slavery
- Video games about viral outbreaks
- Video games about zombies
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games featuring female protagonists
- Video games postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Video games scored by Gustavo Santaolalla
- Video games set in 2038
- Video games set in California
- Video games set in Seattle
- Video games set in Utah
- Video games set in Wyoming
- Video games written by Neil Druckmann