Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered release will include never-before-seen missions in the form of its Lost Levels add-on. However, these new missions will also be recreated in the second season of the series’ TV show adaptation.
After months of leaks, The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered is finally coming to PlayStation 5. The new version will include the aforementioned lost levels as well as a new roguelike mode and some graphical flourishes not seen in the PS4 original. A PC release has not been announced.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, The Last of Us creator Niel Druckmann revealed that the second season of the series’ TV adaptation will use a number of cut sequences from the second game. While not every mission will be adapted, some cut sequences will be seen in the show.
“The Lost Levels are very much focused on offering a sneak peek into The Last of Us Part 2's original development and deepen fans' appreciation for the studio's creative work,” Druckmann explained. “While the TV show has diverged from the original works to suit the medium and likely will again, these levels are not meant to be indicative of work on the HBO show, which is separate from Part 2 Remastered's development."
Druckmann also explained that The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered doesn’t exist just to bolster the TV show. The two are “very different in nature” and the upcoming remaster only exists to deliver fans “the best version of this game possible rather than teeing up any work for the show”.
Furthermore, the game director revealed that characters exclusive to the TV show won’t be added into The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered’s roster of playable characters in its roguelite mode.
“[No Return is] built around a roster of characters from Part 2,” the game creator said.
The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered launches on PlayStation 5 exclusively on 19th January 2024. As for the TV show’s second season, that’s not expected to release until sometime in 2025.