Pixel Sundays: The Last of Us – From Gamepad to the Big Screen
This week in our Pixel Sundays article, we’re talking about a long-standing franchise that has been with us for over 15 years: The Last of Us. A game that’s more than just a game.
Summary
- Development History of The Last of Us
- Story of The Last of Us
- Gameplay Mechanics and Features
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered
- The Last of Us in Other Media
- Looking Ahead
- Conclusion
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was first released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3, so let’s jump right into the development history.
Development History of The Last of Us
After Naughty Dog finished Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in October 2009, they began working on The Last of Us. It was the first time in the studio’s history that they split into two teams. One team worked on Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, while the other focused on The Last of Us.
The project was led by Bruce Straley as Game Director and Neil Druckmann as Creative Director. Straley had been with Naughty Dog since 1999 and was chosen for his experience. Druckmann joined the company in 2004 and was selected for his determination and design talent.
The inspiration for The Last of Us partly came from an episode of the BBC documentary Planet Earth (2006), which featured the cordyceps fungus. This fungus infects insects, takes over their motor functions, and forces them to spread the fungus. The game explores the concept of a mutation of this fungus infecting humans and the direct consequences of such an outbreak.
The Last of Us was released on June 14, 2013, exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game received widespread acclaim and sold over 1.3 million copies in its first week. By April 2018, sales had reached 17 million. The Last of Us Part I was released on September 2, 2022, for the PlayStation 5, and on March 28, 2023, it was also ported to PC via Steam and Epic Games.
After the massive success of the first game, Naughty Dog of course developed a sequel The Last of Us Part II. This game was released on June 19, 2020, exclusively for the PlayStation 4. It continues the story of its predecessor and was praised for its deep storytelling and improved gameplay. The game was later released for the PlayStation 5, and recently a remaster of Part II also launched for PC, but more on that later.
Story of The Last of Us
The story of The Last of Us has been praised by many critics and fans alike. I won’t spoil the full plot here because it’s best experienced firsthand. But I’ll give you a spoiler-free overview of what the games are about.
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world, twenty years after a devastating fungal outbreak. The infection turns affected humans into aggressive creatures and has wiped out most of humanity. The few remaining survivors live in heavily guarded quarantine zones, independent settlements, or as nomads.
The story follows Joel, a disillusioned smuggler, who is tasked with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie out of a quarantine zone. Ellie is immune to the infection, and there’s hope that she might be the key to developing a cure. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey across the United States. Along the way, they must fight against infected creatures and hostile survivors.
Throughout their journey, the two develop a father-daughter-like bond that grows deeper over time. They face morally complex decisions and experience life-changing losses. I won’t go into the ending here, but if you’re curious about what happens next, it’s best to dive into the games yourself.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features
The game is played from a third-person perspective, and you primarily take control of Joel. In some sections, you’ll also get to play as Ellie, though these parts are more limited.
The combat system combines the use of firearms, improvised melee weapons, and stealth mechanics. You’ll fight with guns like rifles, shotguns, and pistols, while melee combat involves pipes and baseball bats. Bottles and bricks can be thrown to distract or attack enemies. Thanks to the stealth system, you can sneak up on enemies undetected and take them down quietly. This helps conserve resources and avoid dangerous encounters — and resources are scarce.
There’s also the Listen Mode feature in the game. This allows you to detect enemies through walls — as long as they’re making noise. You’ll see their silhouettes, which is especially useful when you want to stay stealthy.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered
The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an updated version of the game originally released in 2020. This remastered edition brings a variety of enhancements and new content for PlayStation 5 and PC players. It launched on PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024, and on PC on April 3, 2025.
This version features improved graphics with support for higher resolutions and frame rates, enhancing visual quality and gameplay experience. It also introduces the “No Return” mode, a new roguelike survival mode where players face randomly generated combat scenarios with different characters.
The Last of Us in Other Media
Over time, The Last of Us has expanded into other forms of media. Most notably, there’s the TV series that premiered in January 2023. The first season closely followed the story of the original game, with some added details. Joel is played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie by Bella Ramsey. The series was highly praised by critics and received an IMDb score of 9/10. A second season has already been announced and will premiere on April 13, 2025.
There’s also a comic series called “The Last of Us: American Dreams” from 2013. This four-part series serves as a prequel to the game and tells the backstory of Ellie and her friend Riley. This story was later adapted into the DLC The Last of Us: Left Behind.
Looking Ahead
Naughty Dog, the studio behind The Last of Us, is currently working on a new project called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This is their first original IP in 10 years, which means fewer resources are being dedicated to The Last of Us series for now.
There were once plans for a multiplayer game set in The Last of Us universe, and it even entered development. However, the project was ultimately canceled due to the high resource demands of a live-service title. The studio has chosen instead to focus on crafting high-quality single-player games and is steering away from live-service formats going forward.
Even though the first two The Last of Us games were well-received and commercially successful, a sequel is not currently in development. As of now, there isn’t even a story for a potential third game. So whether a third installment will happen remains uncertain — but fans are still holding out hope.
What’s certain is that the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us series is on the way. Premiering on April 13, 2025, it will follow the events of the second game. However, it’s possible the game’s storyline may be spread across multiple seasons.
Conclusion
The Last of Us is more than just a video game — it’s an emotional journey that blends storytelling and gameplay in a unique way. Since its release in 2013, the franchise has continued to evolve, with sequels, remastered editions, and a highly praised TV series.
Even though a third game hasn’t been confirmed, the universe remains alive — thanks to new media like the TV series and a loyal fanbase. The Last of Us stands as a prime example of how powerful interactive storytelling can be — and we’re excited to see where the journey leads next.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
Download the Allkeyshop Browser Extension Free
For all the latest video game news, trailers, and best deals, make sure to bookmark us.
You can find all the best and cheapest online deals on CD keys, game codes, gift cards, and antivirus software from the verified CD key sellers on our store pages.
To not miss any news on Allkeyshop, subscribe on
Google News
.
MORE RELEVANT ARTICLES
