Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog announced The Last of Us 2 for PlayStation 4 during the PlayStation Experience 2017 keynote. It is in early development and without a release window.
Here is a message from Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann:
I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to finally be able to say that Ellie and Joel are back for another intense, harrowing, and emotional adventure. Like many of you, we have a deep love for the world of The Last of Us and its characters, and while a sequel may have seemed like a foregone conclusion, that wasn’t the case. We knew that it needed to be a story worth telling and, perhaps more importantly, a story worthy of Joel and Ellie. After spending years on different ideas (and almost giving up), we finally uncovered a story that felt special—a story that evolved into an epic journey.
It’s still early days for the project—the game’s release is a ways off—but we couldn’t wait any longer to give you a glimpse of what’s to come. We’re going to let the trailer (coming soon to this post) speak for itself, but expect more information about The Last of Us Part II in the coming months.
The Last of Us Part II stars 19 year-old Ellie
Naughty Dog shared new information about its newly announced The Last of Us Part II during a PlayStation Experience 2016 panel.
While the developer was largely tight-lipped about the still to be dated PlayStation 4 title, the following details were divulged:
You play as Ellie.
The Last of Us Part II takes place a few years after the events of the first game. Ellie is now 19 years old.
Ellie plays different from Joel.
There will be some things in the game that are evolutions, while other things are reinventions.
A gameplay reveal is down the road.
Gustavo Santaolalla, who composed the first game, is composing the sequel.
There were debates within Sony to premiere the game at E3, but Naughty Dog wanted to do it at PlayStation Experience because they love the event so much.
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog debuted an 11-minute gameplay reveal trailer for The Last of Us Part II during its E3 2018 press conference.
Here are the latest details on the game, via The Last of Us Part II director Neil Druckmann on the PlayStation Blog:
In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie is now 19 and has found a semblance of peace and normality living in Jackson. She’s had a chance to be a teenager and forge lasting relationships. When that peace is disrupted by a violent act, Ellie is thrust into a brutal journey of retribution, fueled by a need to bring those that have wronged her to justice, pushing her to her very limits.
From the way Ellie plays to the way she navigates through this hostile world, you’re going to feel her physical, emotional, and mental state expressed through every facet of gameplay. We’ve completely overhauled our engine, developed new combat mechanics, created a new analog stealth system, and revamped our animation system to fully express Ellie’s desperation, resourcefulness, and unique agility.
We’re also upping the stakes and tension of the world. Our environments are broader, more complex, and more detailed–bringing unprecedented realism, verticality, and player choice to the world of The Last of Us. The human enemies you’ll encounter are now more threatening and capable, using sophisticated communication and environmental awareness to create intense, more dynamic stealth and head-on combat encounters.
All of this is underscored by the characters that surround Ellie and their shared experience. The Last of Us Part II features new and returning characters (including that gruff Texan who’s yet to make his full appearance), brought to life by our latest performance capture techniques and our exceptional cast. This week at E3, Ellie, played by Ashley Johnson, is joined by two new characters: Dina, played by Shannon Woodward, and Jesse, played by Stephen Chang.
The Last of Us Part II will be released for PlayStation 4.