June is the big month for announcements from various video game publishers and developers, and surrounding one of their major franchises in recent years – The Last of Us – Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog have shared news on various ongoing projects around the series.
To date, The Last of Us Part II has sold more than 10 million copies globally, thanks to the immense support from the gaming community. With that in mind, PlayStation is happy to share more details about what’s in store for fans of the franchise.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
The Last of Us – Multiplayer Experience
A piece of concept artwork has been shared for the upcoming multiplayer experience. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment, “Naughty Dog is growing its studio significantly to ensure it builds this full-scale, standalone game, with its massive scope and immense world, in a way that fans have come to expect from The Last of Us and Naughty Dog”. Those interested are encouraged to stay tuned for more information in the future.
The Last of Us on HBO
For active HBO subscribers, you will soon be able to enjoy a streamable, live action version of The Last of Us. Below is what Naughty Dog had to say about the project:
From the onset, our original vision for The Last of Us’ story was cinematic and character driven, and HBO enthusiastically continued the spirit of that same vision to bring this story to TV screens worldwide. Helmed by Craig Mazin, Creator and Writer of Chernobyl, in tandem with Executive Producer Carolyn Strauss and Neil Druckmann, the incredible cast and crew strove to ensure a faithful retelling of the story and its intricately detailed world.
In the spirit of collaboration and authenticity, Neil has taken on the roles of Executive Producer and Writer and also directed a full episode. Bringing The Last of Us to life has been a deeply creative collaboration between our studio and HBO.
The worlds of video games and television continue to overlap as Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, Ellie and Joel’s in-game actors respectively, join the cast in major roles. We cannot wait to see them on-screen along with new and longtime fans of The Last of Us.
The Last of Us Part 1
Finally, what could easily be the biggest announcement of the trio, is that development is underway on The Last of Us Part I, a remastered version of the original The Last of Us for not only the PlayStation 5 but also Windows PC. This release will be available first on the PS5 starting 2 September 2022, with ongoing development of the PC version.
Below is what Naughty Dog had to say about the project:
We’ve implemented modernized gameplay, improved controls, and expanded accessibility options in this single-player experience to allow even more individuals to enjoy the game. Effects, exploration, and combat have all been enhanced. Leveraging the PS5’s powerful hardware, we also implemented 3D Audio*, haptics, and adaptive triggers. Both returning fans and new players alike will have the opportunity to experience both The Last of Us Part I and its prequel story Left Behind in a whole new way.
For this rebuild, Neil has passed the directorial baton to Game Director Matthew Gallant and Creative Director Shaun Escayg to bring this project to life. Matthew joined our studio a decade ago to work on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. He rose to Lead Systems Designer on The Last of Us Part II and co-headed the charge for over 60 accessibility features. Shaun started as Lead Cinematic Animator on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Shaun would later go on to become the Creative Director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. With their deep creative and technical expertise with the series, they’re the perfect fit to helm this project, and you’ll be hearing even more about The Last of Us Part I from them soon.
