The Last of Us

I Have Mixed Feelings About The Last Of Us Part 2‘s Trans Character

Whether or not you like The Last of Us Part 2, there’s no denying it’s a diverse game. People of different genders, sexualities, and races exist in its world, and there’s a perverse equality in the way none of them are exempt from suffering. The game’s only trans character, a religious youth named Lev, is…

Riding Horses In The Last Of Us 2 Feels Great, Here’s Why

The Last of Us Part 2 is a big, big game that excels at the little things: the way Joel raises his hand to block sunlight from his eyes, or the way Ellie marks up a map of downtown Seattle with a Sharpie. Another killer small touch is the haptic feedback—the rumble you feel in…

Games Should Make Creating Just As Satisfying As Destroying

I’ve had a lot of fun with The Last of Us Part II, especially its more gruesome gameplay elements. As awful as it feels to admit, Naughty Dog made virtual murder fun. There’s a great sense of accomplishment in sneaking up on a pair of enemies, grabbing one, headshotting the other, and executing your captive…

The Last Of Us Part II Has A Very Good Baby

There comes a point in The Last Of Us II where you encounter a baby, and for a short moment, everything is good in the world. I wrote a couple of years ago about Yakuza 6’s Haruto, and how at the time it was easily the Best Baby In Games because the Yakuza team took…

The Art Of The Last of Us Part II

The end of the world has never looked so good. While The Last Of Us Part II is very much a game about people, and how incredibly shitty we can be, it’s also a game about beauty. In those same people, sure, if that’s the glass-half-full take you want to bring to this discussion, but…

Last Of Us Part 2 Players Seem Unable To Stop Covering Johnny Cash’s ‘Hurt’

For a long time now, people have joked about dudes who bring their guitars to parties and play “Wonderwall” over and over. It now seems the virtual equivalent of this meme is folks playing Hurt in The Last Of Us Part II The Last Of Us Part II is filled with violence, darkness, and a…

Play Your Last Of Us Part 2 New Game Plus On Hard

By now, some of you have wrapped up The Last of Us Part 2, which came out last week for the PlayStation 4. You may be weighing a second playthrough, which begs the question: Really? Are you… okay? Admittedly, there’s also the possibility that you simply can’t get enough of that polished stealth-action gameplay, or…

The Last Of Us 2 Easter Egg Might Be Making A Crunch Joke

Scavenging for vital crafting items is a huge part of The Last of Us Part 2, but Ellie also spends her time in the post-apocalyptic ruins searching for character trading cards from an in-universe comic-book series. One such card is an obvious nod to game director Neil Druckmann, and it also includes what may be…

Folks Are Already Taking Great Photos In The Last Of Us Part II

This week on Snapshots: A bunch of Last of Us 2 photos, some creepy Star Wars ruins, a tiny squirrel, and one cool looking Spider-Man. (I don’t believe any of the photos featured here contain spoilers as they all seem to be taken early on in the game. But if you don’t want to be…

Naughty Dog Showed A Fake Last Of Us 2 Scene To Preserve One Of The Game’s Surprises

To be crystal clear, this video covers major spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2. If you’d prefer to go into this game totally cold, turn back now. Seriously. We mean it. All right, then. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Spoilers follow for The Last of Us Part 2—specifically, for events that occur…

Here’s The Deal With The Last Of Us Part 2

The road to launch for The Last of Us: Part 2, out tomorrow for PlayStation 4, has been lined with questions. The leaks in April were one thing. The review conditions provided by Sony were another. We adhered to those guidelines, and signaled that to readers in our review. Of course, even considering the leaks…

Ellie From The Last Of Us Makes One Angry Anime Figure

Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid action figure of Ellie from The Last of Us Part 2 sure is cute when she’s angry, and she’s almost always angry. Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid Ellie, available for preorder through August with a release date of November, does not have a good smile. The company’s first-ever figure from The Last…

Naughty Dog’s Latest Tweet Is Troll-Proof Thanks To New Twitter Feature

Naughty Dog tweeted out some Last of Us II art with a reminder about the game’s release date today. Thanks to a new Twitter feature, it was one of the first tweets in recent weeks that’s replies weren’t filled with spoilers and vitriol. “Pick up where we left off on June 19,” the tweet read.…

Sony Is Releasing A Last Of Us II PS4 Pro And It’s Extremely Lowkey

Tied to the upcoming release of The Last of Us Part II in June, Sony is releasing a Last of Us-themed PS4 Pro with some special engravings on the top. A lot of times, limited-edition consoles can be over the top. I love Spider-Man, but I don’t necessarily love the idea of having a Spider-Man…

Hackers Are Likely Responsible For The Last Of Us Part II Leak

Last weekend’s shocking leak of footage from The Last Of Us Part II was likely committed by hackers who exploited a security vulnerability in prior Naughty Dog games, according to a person who said they were familiar with the hack. Kotaku has confirmed some of the details with a second source who is familiar with…

Last Of Us II Leakers Are ‘Not Affiliated’ With Naughty Dog, Sony Says

Earlier this week what appeared to be major spoilers from The Last of Us Part II leaked on YouTube and Reddit. Sony now says it knows who the leakers were, and contrary to widespread online speculation, can confirm they were not a disgruntled Naughty Dog employee. “SIE has identified the primary individuals responsible for the…

Sony is refunding digital preorders of The Last of Us Part II and Iron Man VR following last week’s indefinite delay of both games. According to a note on the PlayStation support website, customers who preordered digital copies of Naughty Dog’s sequel and the guy who preordered Iron Man VR will be refunded automatically.

The Last of Us II Delayed Indefinitely

The much-anticipated post-apocalyptic adventure game The Last of Us II will be delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, publisher Sony said today. The game, which had been previously scheduled for May 29, is nearly done and ready to go, a Naughty Dog developer told Kotaku this afternoon. This was a decision made for logistical…

As Naughty Dog Crunches On The Last Of Us II, Developers Wonder How Much Longer This Approach Can Last

Some developers at Naughty Dog continue to ask themselves a question that has haunted the studio for years: Is it worth it?

The Last Of Us Is Getting An HBO TV Show

Craig Mazin, writer behind the wonderful miniseries Chernobyl, is apparently teaming up with The Last of Us game director Neil Druckmann to adapt the PlayStation zombie thriller into a TV show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will focus on the events of the first game, though The Hollywood Reporter writes that there’s “the…