The Last of Us: Part 2 Is Close to Completion, Says Co-Director

Would love to get the game this year, but honestly, don't think we'll see an October or November release. Sony has been moving away from Q4 releases.

I dunno who thought this game wasnt almost done. No dev gives as deep a look into story and gameplay like E3 last year and is still 2 plus years away. I was never expecting anything later thanarch 2020 with sept/oct 2019 being my best guess

@Athrum this game can compete with all the heavy hitters though. Lots of animosity of this GaaS revolution. Thats 90% of holiday releases anymore. I think TLoU2 could easily sell 15-20 million copies all said and done.

November 2019.....

There are few developers I trust more than ND. Take your time.

I wonder How Big is Naughty Dog a few years ago they were big Enough to Spilt into 2 teams so they must be huge now.

I think we will find out with Sony’s State of Play next month. I’ll be surprised if they don’t have one somewhere near E3.

@Nyne11Tyme
A deep look into story and gameplay?
We hardly know anything.

@Nyne11Tyme The Last of Us has sold over 17 million copies. I would consider it a disappointment if TLoU 2 sold around the same as the original, especially if it reviews very well. Assuming that it releases multiplatform on the PS5 as well, like the original did on the PS4.

I realize that expecting a game to sell over 17 million is very high expectations, but TLoU was legendary and built a huge following of people ready to play the sequel.

@deepspace5d
I don't know. I loved the first one for many reason but mainly I felt very close to Joel. I went from hype to losing a lot of interest now. The gameplay looks fantastic but that's about it.

@Nyne11Tyme RDR2, that's all I have to say. This is indeed one of those few Sony titles that could release during the holiday period.

@deepspace5d TLOU had a remaster though; how many bought it twice? I think a fair amount of people. And because it was a remaster, it was cheaper on PS4 as well. 17 million isn't guaranteed, not even for TLOU2.

@JJ2 hopefully it stays that way. TLOU benefitted hugely from flying under the radar before release in terms of plot etc. If we learn nothing more than a release date going forward ill be happy

I'm starting to think TLOU2 will be a mid 2020 release at this point which is fine by me. I trust in Naughty Dog to deliver an amazing experience either way.

I reckon this will be a flagship release when PS5 hits the shops.

@JJ2 id say 20 minutes of gameplay and multiple long cut scenes constitute a good look. Sure they context is slightly muted but has to be

I won’t buy this until I get a ps5 anyway

There is a LONG way to go if they only finished Motion Capture - at least in terms of actually realising all of that in a game. The story board, the acting and voicing etc could all be finished - maybe most of the environments that the game will lead us through but animation (especially Melee Animator required) and putting all those bits together in one cohesive story is still going to take a long time.

Unlike a Film for example where once the actors have finished filming and the long process of editing, putting all those bits of Film together, applying all the lighting and any CGI effects in to become the 'film', a game has to create the whole world. Even a CGI movie where the actors and voices can be finished long before the world and animated characters are created, which could most line up with a linear Story based game, doesn't have as much to consider, as much processes after all the story, acting and voice work is finished as a 'game' developer.

The closest a CGI movie gets to a Game developer is the Cut scenes and no doubt the same type of process an CGI Animated movie (whether it includes any Live action as well) would do - although they still have to be more concerned about GPU/CPU load to render the cut scenes.

The rest though has to be built around the 'game-play' - the bits in between the cut scenes. Of course these could have been worked on whilst they were still filming, still completing the voice work etc. Building the environments, creating the character models etc that can be 'animated' with an actors movements etc.

The TL:DR is that they could be 'finished' in numerous areas like the story board, the acting and voice work, but that doesn't mean the game is 'close'. Like a CGi Film, they could be at the stage of putting all of that into their digital characters, building the world and knitting the pieces together as a 'cohesive' story, still working on the areas between cut scene to cut scene - especially if they are looking at hiring animators.

I can't deny that I am looking forward to this, but I am also not getting my hopes up that this will release in the next 6 months because someone said they were on the 'home straight so to speak, have all the acting and voice work done. At this point in time, knowing a PS5 is imminent, I am also prepared to wait for the inevitable PS5 release. I bought the PS3 version of the Last of Us and then month's later, the complete game (inc DLC) released. I would rather buy the game once and the 'best' version of that too.

It would be awesome if this game released this holiday season, but as others as said, I'm not holding my breath. This game has PS5 written all over it and I'm not sure if they could finish the remaining work on this title before 2020. We'll just have to wait and see.

@JJ2 I don’t understand what you mean. Joel is in TLoU 2 and I would imagine plays a significant role, even if he’s not the main person you control.

@Octane “Assuming that it releases multiplatform on the PS5 as well, like the original did on the PS4”
I guess you missed that part of my comment? Also, I never said 17 million was guaranteed. I said that in my opinion, it would be a disappointment if it didn’t outsell the original.

@deepspace5d
Yea I guess that has to do with Ellie grown up and the focus on her. Like teenagers kiss is not something I care tbh.
Put it that way. TLOU intro is me and my daughter. I don't count how many times she fell asleep on the sofa and I take her to bed in exactly the same way. Just to say I cared about that story.
I feel its a very different game now. I need a story I'm interested in.

@JJ2 I still think Joel will have a big part in the sequel, but ya I agree not playing Joel will be a bummer. But I like how Joel and Ellie developed a father/daughter relationship and hope to see that continue in the sequel.