Development of The Last of Us Part II

Lore & Background

Development of The Last of Us Part II began in 2014 after the release of The Last of Us Remastered, with story concepts first conceived in late 2013. Neil Druckmann returned as creative director and co-writer, joined by Halley Gross. Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau served as co-game directors, a first for Naughty Dog. The team shifted to remote work in the final months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the game was submitted for manufacturing by May 4, 2020.

Reader's Guide

The development of The Last of Us Part II is significant for its scale and cost, totaling around US$220 million, making it one of the most expensive video games ever made. The project involved a reported crunch schedule of 12-hour work days and was slowed by high employee turnover after Uncharted 4. The game's accessibility options were extended from those in Uncharted 4, and the developers worked with advocates. The story was inspired by Druckmann's experiences in the West Bank and Gross's experience with PTSD. The game's legacy includes its technical advancements on the PlayStation 4 and its narrative focus on themes of justice and hate.

Did You Know?

• The development reportedly included a crunch schedule of 12-hour work days.
• The game was originally planned as an open world game but became more linear to serve the narrative.
• Gustavo Santaolalla returned to compose and perform the score, with Mac Quayle contributing additional combat music.
• The development cost of around US$220 million made it one of the most expensive video games to develop.