The Last of Us Part II director Neil Druckmann has previewed the upcoming follow-up to the 2013 title with another State of Play.
Detailing all the new gameplay features set to appear in the much-anticipated sequel, the State of Play episode showcases just how big the game is. With larger environments than the first game, there's also plenty of new ways to navigate that space, too. Players will have new crafting abilities, a grappling hook, and Ellie can even swim this time around. Narrated by Druckmann, the video also gives a preview of the story, but thankfully he teases that there's plenty of surprises still in store.
The ending sequence is an uninterupted eight-minute gameplay video, and the polish of the game is immediately apparent. With more options to progress through the game that before, Ellie is more agile but just as aggressive as Joel was in the original. The gameplay ends in a tense stand-off, showing just how much our lead character has changed since we last saw her.
TLOU2 picks up from where the first title left us off with Ellie and Joel in a post-apocalyptic United States. Given the seven-year delay, many have questioned the need for a second installment. "The test for us was, can we come up with a story that can stand on its own, and be meaningful, and have the weight, the same kind of feeling we had when we came up with the story for the first one," Druckmann explained. "But also, now because it's part two, it has to be additive. It has to take the first one into consideration. If you play both, then you get a bigger narrative."
The Last of Us Part II is scheduled to be released on PlayStation 4 on June 19. Druckmann initially announced in October that the title would be pushed back to May 29 because he wanted extra time to "finish everything to our level of satisfaction while also reducing stress on the team."
In April, Naughty Dog, the developer behind TLOU2, sent chills down the spines of everyone eagerly anticipating the game with the announcement that it was being delayed indefinitely due to logistic issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest trailer, along with its current release date, were revealed after footage leaked online.
Sony also wants you to know that there will not be any PlayStation 5 news or updates, so leave those slim expectations at the door.
