A major part of why The Last of Us 2 is so critically acclaimed is the emotional journey that it takes players on. It does not pull any punches throughout, and one fan’s discovery in the epilogue has made the ending for The Last of Us 2 even stronger.
After giving up everything to pursue Abby once again, Ellie ends up letting The Last of Us 2’s other protagonist go. Devastated, she returns to an empty home, taking one last look and her and Joel’s things before leaving the past behind. While the moment hits hard, especially when Ellie fails to play the guitar and remembers her final conversation with Joel, there is a small section that happens a bit earlier where Ellie picks up some records. It is here where a neat detail can be found.
As pointed out by Redditor OriginalStove, The Last of Us fans will be able to see two different records in Ellie’s hands. On top is a stylish yellow cover by a band named “Crooked Still.” However, fans will want to look below it to see the detail in question. While most of the other cover is obscured, one phrase peaks through. Right above Ellie’s shoulder, the words “live from Austin, Texas” are visible. While many will likely miss this on their playthrough, it does seem like it could be a call back to the story's beginning.
Austin, Texas is the very same place where players first entered into the world of The Last of Us. Home to Joel, Tommy, and Sarah prior to the cordyceps outbreak, it is here where Joel loses his daughter. With this city being one of the very last things referenced in the sequel, and the conversation with Joel happening moments later, it certainly seems like the cover is an intentional detail thrown in by Naughty Dog. As said by OriginalStove in the comments, it makes players think all the way back to where their journey began.
With fans set to see Sarah’s death in a live action show, and possibly play through it again via a remake of The Last of Us, the Texas sequence maintains its relevance years later. As such, referencing it here makes sense, and a few other comments add to the detail. As pointed out by TheSpaceDentist, the cover also reads “heartbreaker,” something that is certainly fitting of the first game’s opening. On top of that, N22A argues that the album was likely one of Joel’s favorites given the location where it was recorded, making it even sadder that Ellie leaves it behind.
While the main story is impactful on its own, the subtle details of The Last of Us 2 add so much. With the sequel seemingly marking the end of Joel’s story, referencing where it first began is fitting.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.