The Last of Us 2 came out over a year ago and quickly became the most awarded game of all time, breaking both awards and sales records. A year later, the game is still overwhelmingly popular and The Last of Us franchise is only getting bigger with time. Rumor has it there's a remake of the first game in development, and production for HBO's adaptation is officially happening.
A lot of gamers played The Last of Us 2 the second it came out, desperate to avoid spoilers after crucial plot details leaked days before launch. But for players who still haven't picked up The Last of Us 2, now is a perfect time. While the game has probably been largely spoiled for new players already, there are quite a few benefits to diving into The Last of Us 2's dark, post-apocalyptic Seattle.
The Last of Us 2's Permanent Price Drop
One of the most attractive benefits to starting The Last of Us 2 now is the permanent price drop it just received, going from $59.99 to $39.99. In a world where PlayStation games seem to be getting more expensive, it's nice to see such a high-quality game get a price drop that will hopefully draw new players in. $20 is a decent amount of savings, and from now on when The Last of Us 2 goes on an additional sale it'll be even deeper.
For players who wanted to try out the game but didn't want to pay full price for it, now is the time. A lot of players were unsure about trying it for a variety of reasons. Some gamers didn't like the idea of a game as depressing as The Last of Us 2, and others rejected it because of some of the major story beats. Everyone has their own reasoning and all of them are valid for the individual, but now that it doesn't cost a full $60 to try it out, it might be worthwhile.
The Last of Us HBO Adaptation is One Year Closer
There's no release date for when The Last of Us HBO adaptation will hit the small screen, but production is in full swing. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are starring as Joel and Ellie, respectively. Other crucial characters have been cast as well, such as Tommy (Gabriel Luna), Marlene (Merle Dandridge), and Joel's daughter Sarah (Nico Parker). The HBO adaptation is being led by Craig Mazin, the mind behind HBO's acclaimed Chernobyl mini-series, and the show is reportedly being given an eight-figure budget per episode. Needless to say, expectations are high.
It'll be a while before a trailer or release date comes around, but the show is a year closer now, filming has begun, and picking up The Last of Us 2 is a good opportunity to experience the whole story before the HBO adaptation releases. The show will be adding to the original game and may allude to events that take place in season 2, which would presumably cover the Part 2 story, so knowing everything beforehand would help to fully understand and appreciate any references made in the show. It's not a bad time to replay The Last of Us either as a refresher before the show.
The Last of Us 2 Received a PS5 Performance Patch
While The Last of Us 2 hasn't been officially upgraded to next-gen yet, it did receive a PS5 performance patch to take better advantage of the next-gen hardware. The patch was free, but early adopters enjoyed the game on PS4 consoles. The Last of Us 2 was praised as being a game that managed to look next-gen on formerly current hardware, with incredible facial animations and level design. With the PS5 patch, however, the game can now run on PS5 consoles at 60 FPS, with enhanced resolution and faster loading times.
For those who enjoy playing games with a higher frame rate or who want to make the most of their PS5, it's a great time to pick up The Last of Us 2. A DualSense upgrade has improved new players' experience and even more upgrades are likely on the way, so it could be worth holding out a little bit longer for those. But those who are playing the game now will have an enhanced experience on PS5 compared to those who played at launch.
The Controversy Surrounding The Last of Us 2 Has Calmed Down
For a lot of players, their experience of The Last of Us 2 was ruined by plot leaks and the controversy that surrounded the game. Joel's untimely death and the inclusion of Abby as a playable character didn't sit well with a lot of players, and many were vocal about their opinions online. There was a lot of tension surrounding the game, and even those who weren't intending on playing it right away may have had their experiences or opinions altered by the controversy.
Many fans of The Last of Us stand by their original arguments and don't intend to play the game, but for those on the fence, now is the perfect time to jump in. While the conflict hasn't completely gone away and likely never will, it's no longer the leading headline. New players can dive into the story without the controversy being front and center, and hopefully have an experience that's more authentic; not as impacted by the fanbase's division.
There's No Point in Trying to Avoid The Last of Us 2 Spoilers Anymore
There comes a time with every big release where spoiler warnings aren't as common and major plot details are generally considered to be known. A year after its release, The Last of Us 2 has certainly arrived at that point. Most everyone knows about Abby now, and everyone knows about Joel's tragic end. While that may seem like a con to playing the game now, there actually is a benefit to this.
Players who bought the game right away and started playing had to work very hard to avoid spoilers due to both the leak and the controversy. Many players had their experiences ruined by spoilers. Others managed to stay in the dark until playing the game, but not without religiously avoiding social media and all comment sections. Now, those plot points are common knowledge and new players don't have to worry about avoiding them as much. Yes, they might know some of the twists and turns the story takes, but at least they can play the game at their own pace.
The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4.