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Last of Us Part I coming in September, multiplayer spinoff in development

Sony has officially announced The Last of Us Part I, a remake of 2013’s The Last of Us for PS3. The game launches on September 2 for PlayStation 5 and it is in development for PC. The game’s existence was leaked via the PlayStation Direct store earlier today, though the listing didn’t spoil that a new standalone Last of Us multiplayer game is in the works.

According to the Naughty Dog’s blog post, The Last of Us Part I is a complete overhaul of the original game that has modernized gameplay mechanics, including controls and combat as well as accessibility options. The remake uses the PS3’s original performances but with improved graphical details and effects.

The Last of Us Part I - Announce Trailer | PS5 Games

There is also a limited edition of the game called the Firefly Edition that includes a copy of the game and its prequel chapter, Left Behind. It also comes with a steelbook case and a The Last of Us: American Dreams comics issue No. 1-4, reprinted with new cover art, and some early in-game unlocks such as a Speedrun Mode, increased crafting speed skill, and a rifle clip capacity increase upgrade.

The standard edition of the game also includes Left Behind and will cost $70, and the Firefly Edition is exclusive to the PlayStation Direct store and costs $100.

The Last of Us Part I (PS5 standard/Firefly Edition) up for preorder at PS Direct ($69.99/$99.99) https://t.co/HTMHHsMi6v

trailer: https://t.co/dumiWe62Kj pic.twitter.com/I7HNA3wD2X

— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 9, 2022

The title, The Last of Us Part I, falls in line with the original’s sequel, The Last of Us Part II, and is a way to help differentiate it between the original PS3 game and its PS4 remaster, The Last of Us Remastered.

The Last of Us Part I‘s cover is noteworthy because it features Ellie more prominently than Joel. In 2012, Ellie’s actor, Ashley Johnson, said there was pressure to relegate Ellie to the back of the box art on the original game because some people were afraid that if a female character like Ellie was in front, then the game wouldn’t sell as much.

During Summer Game Fest, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann also confirmed that a standalone multiplayer The Last of Us game is in the works. He adds that it has its own story with a new cast of characters and that it is just as big as any of the studio’s single-player games. Only concept art was shown, but more information about it will come next year.

First concept art of the standalone multiplayer game by Naughty Dog

– has a story
– new cast of characters

More infos next year #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/8kqgNpDiER

— Nibel (@Nibellion) June 9, 2022

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George Yang
George Yang is a freelance games writer for Digital Trends. He has written for places such as IGN, GameSpot, The Washington…
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