After numerous delays, Sony and developer Naughty Dog are focusing their efforts on advertising The Last of Us Part II ahead of its June 19 release date. Advertisements for the game have arrived in Los Angeles, California, taking over the sides of trains and more to prepare fans for the game's long awaited release.
The highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II was originally scheduled for release last year, but was suddenly and mysteriously pushed back to spring 2020, along with a plethora of other high-profile delays. Then, in April, it was delayed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affecting the final stretch of development progress. Now that the game is officially arriving soon, Sony and Naughty Dog are making sure fans are aware.
The advertisement campaign was revealed on Twitter by Naughty Dog game designer Pete Ellis. He posted a photo of a large ad for The Last of Us Part II on the side of a Los Angeles Metro Rail train. Fans are obviously excited, as well, as the ads are a (literally) huge sign that the game is definitely on its way, not at any feasible risk of possibly being delayed again.
The repeated release delays have generated much speculation and contention among The Last of Us fans. While the first delay was largely attributed to polish, the second delay was suspiciously announced immediately after a huge batch of spoilers were leaked online, meanwhile Naughty Dog blamed the pandemic. Though that was likely a large factor, the developer's betrayed reaction to the leaks suggests that the team wanted time to change what had been spoiled while still delivering a high quality finished product. The June 19 release date announcement was seen as a way for Naughty Dog to distract players. Now that the game is officially completed and discs are being printed, Naughty Dog and publisher Sony can focus all energy on advertising to restore the hype that originally surrounded the sequel pre-leak.
Since the success of the original The Last of Us game, fans have been looking forward to the sequel and are expecting a lot from Naughty Dog in terms of the story and game play. Though the delays and leaks have caused some negative fan backlash, it's clear that the long development cycle points to Naughty Dog's commitment to giving fans the polished, unspoiled product they expect. The Last of Us Part 2 will likely meet or exceed fans' expectations, and the long wait will hopefully be worth it.
Source: PeteEllisGames/Twitter