OnceThe Last of Us Part 2releases in late May, it will be almost seven years since the first title hit the PS3. Thehighly anticipated sequelhas been on everyone’s radar since it was revealed in 2016. Since then, Naughty Dog and Sony have rolled out snippets of information and trailers.
The Last of Us Part 2releases on July 21, 2025. Seven years is a long time between sequels. So, if you have not touched the first installment in some time, then this list will update on what you need to know before the sequel’s release. If you have not played the first game, then this list will contain spoilers! You have been warned.
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10Development Since 2014
Soon after the release ofThe Last of Us Remastered, Naughty Dog began development on part two. Six years is a really long time for a game to be in development, so fans should know Naughty Dog has taken time on this sequel. The first game received exceptional reception from fans and critics.
The rumor of a sequel came up a few times before the game was released through some leaks. However, the game was officially announced in 2016. Fans of this franchise will certainly not be disappointed with the sequel.
9The Last of Us Sold Millions
The Last of Ussold 1.3 million copies within the first week of its release. Three weeks later, it sold more than three million units. These numbers are important because it meansThe Last of Us Part 2is very anticipated and may very well shake the industry as the first game did.
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Due to a large number of units sold for the first game, Naughty Dog had to develop a sequel. Plus, the ending ofThe Last of Usleaves many fans wanting to know what happens next. Fortunately, fans will know in late May.
8The Last of Us Part 2 Does Not Have Multiplayer
The Last of Ushad a multiplayer option that many players enjoyed. There were a few different game modes and two different factions for players to choose from. The servers toThe Last of Usmultiplayer were shut down in September of 2019.
The Last of Us Part 2will not feature a multiplayer suite. In a tweet, Naughty Dog stated they would not be including a multiplayer mode in the sequel, but fans would be able to experience the multiplayer in some way in the future.
7The Story Takes Place 5 Years Later
The story ofThe Last of Us Part 2takes place five yearsafter the first game. So, Ellie was 14 in the first game and will now be 19 in the sequel. From the trailers, Joel has aged having some grey hair and more wrinkles. Joel is in his late 40s at the time of the first game, meaning he has most likely in his 50’s now.
Furthermore, it means the destruction of the Cordyceps fungus has been 25 years. This is very late into a post-apocalyptic setting, but it will give fans a unique take on the genre. Plus, humanity is relatively stable in small pockets inThe Last of Usuniverse.
6Ellie Is Immune To Cordyceps
TheCordyceps fungusis the reason the world ofThe Last of Usis so gone. It transforms humans into zombie-like creatures that are very aggressive. The infection spreads through a bite, which Ellie receives shortly before the events ofThe Last of Us.
Most people turn within hours of being bit from an infected, but Ellie claimed she received the bite several days prior. This makes her a critical piece in developing a cure or vaccine for the Cordyceps fungus. We see the importance of this detail throughout the game.
5Joel Is Asked To Smuggle Ellie
Joel is a smuggler at the time players meet him inThe Last of Us. He and his friend Tess would frequently smuggle in weapons and resources. They lose a cache of weapons to someone who traded them to the Fireflies, a rebel group against the quarantine zone’s authority.
Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, asks Joel and Tess to smuggle Ellie to a Firefly camp in exchange for the weapons. She even says she will double the cache if they decide to smuggle Ellie out of the zone.
4The Fireflies Are The Good Guys
It is very important to note that the Fireflies are a faction fighting against the oppression of the quarantine zones run by the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA). They want the return of the three branches of government and democracy as a whole. Unfortunately, the rebel group has not been very successful.
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The Fireflies have continued to look for a cure or vaccine for the Cordyceps fungus, but have failed numerous times. During the time ofThe Last of Us, Ellie is there only hope of developing such a cure. A cure would allow them to garner significantly more members in order to overthrow FEDRA.
3Ellie Must Die For The Cure
Eventually, Joel reaches the Fireflies with Ellie. They quickly prep her for surgery to create a cure. However, Joel discovers Ellie must die in order for a treatment to be developed. The Fireflies need to extract the infected portion of her brain, which will result in her death.
This piece of information is one of the most important in the entire game ofThe Last of Us. Joel and Ellie have spent a long time together since they left the quarantine zone. During that time, they have developed a strong relationship that Joel does not want to lose.
2Joel Kills The Fireflies To Save Ellie
Once Joel learns Ellie will die from the surgery, he acts fast andstarts killing the Firefliesin order to reach her. Joel’s rampage through the hospital is unlike anything players have seen from him in the game. If you cannot recall, Joel lost his biological daughter at the beginning of the Cordyceps outbreak.
The time he and Ellie have spent together has created a father-daughter bond that he does not want to lose again. So, he acts fast and starts killing everyone in his way. He eventually reaches Ellie and starts his way out. The Fireflies' leader, Marlene, asks him to stop, but he kills her in opposition.
1Joel Lies To Ellie
Ellie is completely unconscious during the events of the hospital and Joel’s killing. Eventually, she wakes up and discovers she is no longer with the Fireflies or hospital. She asks Joel what happened back at the Firefly base. Joel lies to her, saying the Fireflies stopped looking for a cure, and Ellie was not the only immune human.
Ellie accepts the answer at the time but confronts Joel again. She tells Joel about her survivor’s guilt and how many had sacrificed their lives for her to reach the Fireflies. She asks Joel to promise her the events he told were true. Joel lies again promising Ellie what he said was true.
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