The Last of Us gallery

By Drew Prindle May 17, 2013

Naughty Dog celebrates the fact that only a handful of weeks remain until the launch of The Last of Us with the release today of an assortment of screenshots and concept art from the upcoming post-apocalyptic survival game.

The game picks up after a viral outbreak destroys civilization as we know it, prompting many of the surviving humans to gather in government-controlled quarantine zones. You play as Joel, a man with a troubled past who’s been hired to transport a young girl named Ellie across the country. Close bonds form as the two make their way cautiously across a landscape littered with the infected.

Naughty Dog continues to keep quiet on specific plot points, but you can check out our hands-on preview to get a better idea of how this sharp-looking game slides in alongside the likes of the Uncharted series.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Gaming

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered turns the original game into a cruel punch line

Lev draws a bow in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

It was a sunny spring day in 2020, amid the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I beat The Last of Us Part 2. As its long credits rolled, I paced around my small apartment living room, unpacking what had transpired. I adored the sequel’s first two acts and its multifaceted discussion of cyclical violence, but I found myself critical of its California-set finale. It seemed to backtrack on all the nuance of Ellie and Abby’s struggle by introducing a definitively evil faction that I wouldn’t feel bad about shooting with a machine gun. It was a discordant note at the end of a symphony, but I was determined to dig below my surface reading and try to understand what Naughty Dog was going for. It had earned that.

That’s when I was hit by the one moment of the game I’ll never forget. As I was deep in reflection, the credits wrapped up, and a final bit of text splashed on the screen. As a reward for finishing the brutal story, I had unlocked New Game+ mode, which would encourage me to replay it again with all my upgraded guns. The benefit of the doubt I’d given Naughty Dog went out the window; did the studio even understand its own game?

Gaming

In a sea of live service games, I miss the days of regular old multiplayer modes

A team of Spartans transports the enemy flag in Halo Infinite.

While I once enjoyed jumping into a few matches of Halo or Street Fighter, lately I almost never engage with multiplayer titles. Where we once enjoyed a game's multiplayer component for what it was and for as long as we found it fun, an ongoing industry push toward "live services" wants those titles to be our only games.

Gone are the days of jumping in and playing a round or two of capture the flag or team deathmatch for a quick burst of fun before turning the game off. Games like Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, and Destiny 2 all immediately put you on the treadmill of battle passes, daily and weekly challenges, and login bonuses upon starting, with the hope that you will stick around indefinitely rather than have your fun and move on.

Gaming

What’s new in January 2024: 7 games that should be on your radar

Key art for The Last of Us Part II Remastered

2024 has just begun, and while we don't expect it to be as packed with as many heavy hitters as 2023, plenty of exciting games are still on the horizon. The year's starting strong too, with a January that sees several notable franchises return with brand-new entries, some for the first time in over a decade.

This month might end up being one of the busiest of the year for significant new game releases, so you'll definitely want to keep an eye on everything coming out over the coming weeks, no matter what platform you primarily play on. These seven games should be on your radar to kick off the new year.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (January 18)