The Last of Us franchise, developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has evolved significantly since its inception.
It has offered players a rich and immersive experience through its various editions since its inception in 2013.
Each edition of the game has contributed uniquely to the franchise’s legacy. Let’s take a look at all of them.
The Last of Us (Original)
Released in June 2013 for the PlayStation 3, The Last of Us introduced players to a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a mutant Cordyceps fungus.
The game focuses on the journey of Joel, a smuggler, and Ellie, a young girl who may hold the key to a cure for the global infection.
Praised for its narrative, gameplay, and character development, the game became one of the best-selling video games, selling over 17 million units by April 2018.
The Last of Us: Left Behind (DLC)
In February 2014, Naughty Dog released Left Behind as downloadable content for the PlayStation 3.
This addition provides a backstory to Ellie’s life before she met Joel, focusing on her relationship with her best friend Riley.
It’s a significant narrative expansion, giving players a deeper insight into Ellie’s character and the events that shaped her.
The Last of Us Remastered
TLOS Remastered was released for the PlayStation 4 in July 2014.
This version included enhanced graphics and all the downloadable content released for the original game, including Left Behind.
The remastered edition was well-received, offering improved visuals and performance, making it a definitive version for players new to the franchise or those revisiting it on newer hardware.
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The Last of Us Part II
A sequel, The Last of Us Part II, was released in June 2020 for the PlayStation 4.
Set four years after the events of the original game, the story continues with Ellie as the main character.
The sequel was noted for its expanded gameplay mechanics, deeper narrative elements, and controversial story choices.
Despite facing some criticism, it was acclaimed for pushing the boundaries of video game storytelling.
The Last of Us Part I (Remake)
In September 2022, The Last of Us Part I, a remake of the first game, was released for the PlayStation 5, and later in March 2023 for Windows.
This version features revised gameplay, brand-new character models, reworked environments and textures, improved AI, and expanded accessibility options.
The remake was an ambitious project that aimed to bring the classic game up to the standards of contemporary gaming technology.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
Scheduled for release in January 2024, The Last of Us Part II Remastered for the PlayStation 5 aims to enhance the original PlayStation 4 game with several technical improvements.
It includes graphical upgrades, 4K visual performance in Fidelity Mode, improved loading times, and full integration of the DualSense wireless controller’s features.
This remastered version promises to be the definitive way to experience Ellie and Abby’s story.
It will feature new gameplay modes and additional elements that deepen the exploration of the game’s narrative and mechanics.
Other media and spin-offs
In addition to the main video games, the franchise has expanded into other media.
This includes a comic book miniseries titled The Last of Us: American Dreams, which serves as a prequel to the game.
There have been live performances, such as The Last of Us: One Night Live, and tabletop games like The Last of Us: The Board Game and The Last of Us: Escape the Dark.
A haunted house attraction was even created at Universal Studios to celebrate the game’s tenth anniversary.
Additionally, there were initial plans for a film adaptation, but these eventually fell through, leading to the development of the critically acclaimed television adaptation with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Each edition of the franchise has contributed to its profound impact on the gaming and film industry.
From the original game’s groundbreaking narrative to the technological enhancements in the latest remakes and remasters, the series has consistently set high standards in storytelling, gameplay, and character development.
Now, with a new remaster on the way and The Last of Us season 2 in the works, the Last of Us show is far from done.