Latest news with #TheLastOfUsPartII
Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘The Last Of Us Part II' Just Got A Huge Update That Completely Changes How The Game Is Played
The Last Of Us Part II One of my biggest criticisms of HBO's adaptation of The Last Of Us Part II, which is being adapted into multiple seasons of TV, is the way the show bungled the chronology. One Season 2 scene in particular was plucked from the very end of the video game and inserted in the penultimate episode of the second season, long before it takes place in the game. Elsewhere, we learn much earlier what Abby's motivations are, whereas gamers were blindsided by her actions in the game, and didn't learn what fueled her revenge until much later. It appears that Naughty Dog wants a piece of this action. Sony revealed today that a new update for The Last Of Us Part II will allow players to blast their way through the game in chronological order. The free update takes the non-linearity of the game and untangles it so that players can play as Ellie and Abby chronologically. In the original game, you play as Ellie first and then the clock jumps back and you play as Abby. It's a really clever storytelling structure that forces you to examine a whole different side of the coin. In the Chronological Update, all of this is removed. You jump back and forth between missions, playing as both characters as they hurtle towards one another. 'Through the new Chronological mode, we believe players will gain even deeper insight into Part II's narrative," Naughty Dog informs us on the PlayStation Blog. "Players will be able to see how Ellie being gifted a guitar flows so neatly into her learning to play, for example, while the journey through Seattle will showcase the fascinating parallels between Ellie and Abby's crisscrossing journeys. You'll see just how close they come into running into each other, how their actions impact each other, and more. 'It was no small feat to bring The Last of Us Part II's story chronologically together, given that Part II's story is so meticulously put together. We're grateful to the developers both at Naughty Dog and our partners at Nixxes to make the Chronological mode as smooth as possible. And while we of course recommend players still new to the game to play through Part II's story as was originally developed, the team's hard work has paid off with a fascinating new way to enjoy this chapter.' While this is a pretty fascinating idea, and I'm certainly curious to see how (or whether) it works, it's hard not to shake your head at this point. This game and the original have both been released and re-released so many times at this point, a new update like this can start to feel like part of a running joke. The Last Of Us Complete released just a few months ago (with a physical Collector's Edition coming out this week). It's hard to see any new release – even a free update – without thinking about how much this franchise has been squeezed for every last penny. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Along with the update, which is out now on PS5 and PC, the game is getting new bug fixes and performance updates and two very familiar skins for brothers Joel and Tommy: Tommy and Joel Yep, these are Nathan Drake and Sam Drake skins from Uncharted to celebrate Naughty Dog's 40th anniversary this year. I sure wish a new Uncharted game was in the works. C'est la vie.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Last Of Us' Creators Discuss Season 2 Premiere & Tee Up What's To Come: 'So Much Of The Season Is About Consequence'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us. The Season 2 premiere of HBO's The Last of Us drops in on what seems to be a quiet and calm existence in Jackson, Wyoming, about five years after the arrival of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey). More from Deadline But, under the surface, there's a looming sense that something isn't right. First of all, Joel and Ellie are barely speaking — and the issue appears to go deeper than just teenage angst. Also, the episode opens with the introduction of Kaitlyn Dever's Abby with a group of Fireflies, seemingly mourning the losses at the hospital where Joel murdered everyone to save Ellie. Abby vows in that scene to eventually go after Joel. This is an earlier and somewhat different introduction to Abby than in the game. Creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have explained that they chose to lay out Abby and her motivations this way to establish the best emotional connection with the audience in just seven episodes of television. Dever, who was a fan of the video game well before she was cast, also spoke positively of the change. 'Just the amount of time that we would have to spend in order to get to Abby's core and to why she has so much rage, it would take a lot of seasons to get to that,' she said. 'I think it's really important for the viewers to see this side of her first from the jump. We are finding her in a very raw and vulnerable place. I think it humanizes her a bit more than than the game, and I think that that is important.' One of the hallmarks of the first season of The Last of Us was how closely it mirrored its source material at times. However, The Last of Us Part II is much bigger in scope and scale than its predecessor, which presented different challenges and, at times, the need for larger structural changes to properly tell the story. In essence, make watching the show feel the same as playing the video game. 'You begin with the biggest possible view. What is this about? What matters to us? What made us feel, and why?' Mazin said of the process to adapt The Last Of Us Part II. 'Then, as you go and find agreement and consensus, you just keep narrowing down…Eventually you get there, but it's work, and it's careful work, because we know how we ultimately decide episodically, and even season-to-season, how this will lay out, informs all the things that happen inside of every moment of the show.' The Last of Us has already been renewed for a third season, and Mazin and Druckmann have indicated that the second video game would require multiple seasons to adapt. That being said, there are many scenes in the first episode of Season 2 that will feel quite similar to the opening scenes of the video game, even if things aren't unfolding exactly the same. Druckmann points to the supermarket sequence, which occurs without the introduction of the Stalker, and Joel's conversation with Gail (Catherine O'Hara), as two examples of this. 'There's this conversation that Joel has with Gail…it's very similar to a conversation that Joel had with Tommy at the beginning of the game,' he told Deadline, adding that they introduced Gail to 'have someone that really challenges Joel in a way that maybe Tommy wouldn't. In the game, we use that Tommy conversation like, 'Okay, how do we dramatize what happened in the first game? In case people haven't played the first game or they forgot.' Here, we're using it as drama to feel the ripple effect of Joel's choice at the end of Season 1, because so much of the season is about consequence.' There's a lot to unpack from this episode, including what appears to be the evolution of the Infected. While Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) are out on patrol, Ellie encounters an Infected that has a level of intelligence, stalking her through the aisles and baiting her into traps. This is another early introduction from the game, which Mazin explained was a way to 'fire a warning shot over everyone's head to say, 'This is not as simple as it looks.'' At the end of the episode, the camera settles on what seems to be cordyceps growing in some of the pipes in Jackson. And, it looks like Abby has finally made it to Jackson to make good on her promise. All of these external threats are also coming as Jackson is trying to rapidly expand to accommodate the influx of refugees they've had lately, placing them in a vulnerable position. By the end of the episode, it starts to feel as though some of these characters are about to be caught on the back foot. 'In fact, part of the problem is, at least for the first part of that episode, you get the sense that people are getting a little cocky about all this. Ellie and Dina are like, 'Oh, let's go kill some clickers.' Season 1, Joel and Tess were deadly terrified of clickers because they lived in a QZ where they weren't facing them all the time,' Mazin said. 'But now we're out here in Jackson, where it seems like people have kind of gotten good at this, and they know how to kill these things. They're having fun learning how to use them as sniper rifle practice. That is the kind of hubris that comes back to bite you every single time, and we wanted to bite people quickly, literally and figuratively.' While things remain safe and sound for now, don't expect it to stay that way. In fact, the premiere episode has not even scratched the surface of what's to come for The Last of Us Season 2. 'Nothing is frivolous, nothing is done just for decoration,' teases Halley Gross, who co-wrote the game with Druckmann and also co-wrote several of the season's episodes. 'Everything is a setup for a payoff…So I would pay attention to who are they when they feel safe, because things are about to get really dangerous.' New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT and are available to stream on Max beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The finale airs May 25. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Last of Us Season 3: When will new episodes air? Expected release window
As fans gear up for the return of Joel and Ellie in the long-awaited second season of The Last Of Us, HBO has officially confirmed that the journey is far from over. The Last Of Us Season 3 is now in development, promising to expand the emotionally rich and brutally unforgiving world that has captivated audiences worldwide. Series Set in a Pandemic-Ravaged World Based on the critically acclaimed video game franchise, The Last Of Us is set in a dystopian world brought to its knees by a fungal infection that turns humans into deadly, zombie-like creatures. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo In the first season, Joel ( Pedro Pascal ), a grizzled survivor, was tasked with escorting Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a teenager immune to the virus, across a broken America in the hope of finding a cure. The story was lauded for its emotional depth, thematic maturity, and strong performances, culminating in a season finale that left fans both devastated and eager for more. Live Events Season 2 Picks Up Five Years Later On April 14, the second season resumed the narrative five years after the events of Season 1. Still centered around Joel and Ellie, the new season is expected to cover part of The Last Of Us Part II, the video game sequel that introduced darker themes and more complex character arcs, as mentioned in a report by Red Online. While reviews for the upcoming episodes describe a 'more intense and layered' narrative, viewers can also expect a broader ensemble, including Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, Tati Gabrielle, and Catherine O'Hara joining the cast. However, the emotional toll remains at the core, with early reports suggesting a cliffhanger ending. Season 3 in the Works HBO's confirmation of The Last Of Us Season 3 ahead of the Season 2 premiere comes as a reassurance to fans invested in the future of Joel and Ellie. Although specific plot details are being kept under wraps, it is understood that the third season will continue adapting the remaining chapters of The Last Of Us Part II. Given the game's narrative complexity, some insiders speculate that the full story arc may require a fourth season to be completely realised. Expected Release Timeline With Season 2 launching in April 2025 after delays caused by last year's industry-wide strikes, The Last Of Us Season 3 could premiere as early as 2027. However, timelines remain flexible, depending on production schedules and ongoing developments in the entertainment industry. In the UK, the series airs via Sky Atlantic and is available for streaming on NOW, synchronised with HBO's U.S. release schedule. Cast Outlook and Returning Faces It is too soon to confirm the full returning cast for the third season, though hopes remain high for the continuation of Joel and Ellie's story. Pascal and Ramsey's portrayals have been central to the series' success, and fans will be eager to see how their characters evolve amid intensifying threats. Previous seasons have featured notable performances from Nico Parker, Nick Offerman, and Storm Reid, with the ensemble expanding further in Season 2. As HBO deepens its commitment to one of its most successful recent properties, the announcement of The Last Of Us Season 3 ensures that the journey through this harrowing yet poignant post-pandemic world will continue to unfold in gripping fashion. FAQs Will there be a 'The Last of Us' Season 3? Yes. Prior to the premiere of Season 2, HBO confirmed that The Last of Us has been renewed for a third season. However, it remains uncertain whether Season 3 will mark the conclusion of the series. Why did Pedro Pascal leave The Last of Us? Pedro knew about his character's fate from the moment he joined the project. While he understood that his time as Joel would be limited, that hasn't made the heartbreak any easier—he's just as affected as the rest of us.
Khaleej Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Pedro Pascal on his character's death in 'The Last Of Us' Season 2
Actor Pedro Pascal opened up about The Last Of Us's shocking twist in its second season when the actor's character, Joel, gets killed by a vengeful Abby. The death of Pascal's character in The Last Of Us was shocking for many of his fans - the dealthis straight out of the The Last Of Us Part II video game. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pascal said that he knew about his character's death, but was just waiting for "how and when" his character's would meet its end. "It's not like they said, 'Hey, we kill you at the beginning of season 2,'" said Pascal. "But it was always an understanding that it would stay true to the source material in a specific way and that the, let's say, practical and exclusive obligation would be for season 1. It was just a matter of how and when," added Pascal. Earlier, while speaking to HBO during the official Last of Us after show, Pascal said that he has nothing but respect for the fans of the show, video game, and the book. "I have nothing but respect for the level of investment that people have in a video game or a TV show or movie or book. I experience that myself. I've flung books across the room because its impact is so profound on me and experiencing the story. I think it is incredibly painful for people and that's obviously a brilliant achievement of the storytelling," Pascal was reported as saying by Variety.
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Does Joel really die in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2?
BEFORE being adapted into a smash hit TV show, The Last Of Us started out as a wildly successful series of video games, with Part II coming out in 2020. Joel was unexpectedly murdered at the start of the game, leading fans to speculate whether the same fate might befall him in the live-action version. Here's everything you need to know. 3 3 The Last Of Us Part II video game shocked its legions of loyal fans by killing of Joel — the protagonist from the first instalment — right near the start. And Joel didn't heroically fall victim to a fearsome fungus-fuelled zombie in the console versions — he was beaten to death with a golf club by a young woman named Abby. Here we take a look at what happens to Joel in the highly-rated HBO adaptation. Does Joel die? Yes — Joel does in fact die in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2. This pivotal and shocking event occurs when Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), a new character introduced this season, brutally kills Joel in front of Ellie. The episode titled Through the Valley builds up to Joel's death with a series of converging storylines. Abby, driven by a personal vendetta, is revealed to be the daughter of the doctor Joel killed at the end of Season 1, when Joel rescued Ellie from the Fireflies, dooming the potential for a cure but saving her life. Abby and her group of former Fireflies, now hardened by years of military training and sacrifice, track Joel to the outskirts of Jackson. After a harrowing sequence where Joel saves Abby from a horde of infected, she leads him and Dina to a lodge where her group is hiding. Revenge Once inside, Abby's group subdues Dina and prepares for their true purpose: revenge. The Last of Us season 2 trailer hints at long-awaited release date Abby confronts Joel, demanding he admit to killing the Fireflies and her father. After he does, she shoots him in the leg and tortures him, mercilessly beating him with the golf club — all while Ellie is forced to watch, restrained and helpless. Seeing he's not making out alive, Joel tells Abby to get it over with rather than begging for his life. Unlike the game, where Abby caves Joel's head in with the golf club, in the TV show she stabs him in the neck with its broken and jagged shaft. 3 The brutality and emotional impact of the scene are heightened by the show's refusal to soften the moment or offer any hope of survival — Joel's death is final. Is Joel really dead? The sequence is not a dream, hallucination or fake-out — it is a definitive, irreversible moment in the series, mirroring the infamous scene from the video game. Pedro Pascal 's portrayal of Joel ends here, with the character only expected to appear in flashbacks in future episodes. The characters murder marks a turning point for the show, ensuring that the consequences of Joel's actions in Season 1 of The Last of Us reverberate throughout the rest of the second series. It is a seismic moment for the series, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the story and the motivations of its characters. For Ellie, witnessing Joel's murder becomes the catalyst for her own journey of vengeance and grief, setting up the core narrative for the rest of the season.
