SONY is reportedly working on a PlayStation 5 remake of beloved survival horror game The Last of Us.
The alleged remake is expected to follow the same story as the 2013 original but with upgraded graphics to match the power of the Japanese gaming giant’s new console.
1) The Last of Us remake – what is it?
The Last of Us was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2013 and is one of the most critically acclaimed games of the past decade.
It was followed up by The Last of Us 2 last year, which won game of the year at the 2020 Game Awards.
According to Bloomberg, developer Naughty Dog is currently working on a remake of the much-loved original title.
Of course, Sony already released a remastered version of the game in 2014 to coincide with the release of the PlayStation 4.
That came with all the same content from the original release, but with 1080p resolution, boosted graphics and the removal of several glitches.
The remake, on the other hand, will reportedly rebuild the game from the ground up.
That will mean an even bigger jump in graphics performance and could even give developers room to make changes to the core game.
The Last of Us remake – release date and news
There’s very little information about the game out there, bar a few scraps in the Bloomberg report.
According to the news site, The Last of Us PS5 remake has ruffled the feathers of some developers at Sony.
The project was initially the responsibility of the company’s Visual Arts Service Group – a studio located in San Diego.
However, the reins were suddenly handed over to original developer Naughty Dog, leading the group’s founder to leave Sony altogether.
The Visual Arts Service Group is now playing a supporting role to Naught Dog, the report claims.
Neither Sony nor Naughty Dog have confirmed they’re working on the remake, so take any information with a pinch of salt.
It’s not clear when the remake is planned for release, but it could coincide with the broadcast of a new HBO show based on the series.
Given the series was announced on March 6, 2020, it’s likely the show won’t be out until late 2021 or early 2022 at the very earliest.
There’s a good chance it will be later than that however, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to delay production targets across the industry.
In March 2020, series lead writer Craig Mazin outlined a timetable for production on his podcast, “Scriptnotes”.
“We can’t start on it right away because they’re still finishing up the second game, but pretty soon,” Mazin said.
“We’ve been talking about it for months and coming up with little plans and things. But we’re going to dig in in full, full earnest pretty soon, just as soon as they wrap up their final work on the sequel.”
2) What is The Last Of Us about?
So far, there have been two entries to The Last of Us franchise, starting with 2013 smash-hit game, The Last of Us (spoilers ahead).
Set 20 years after the outbreak of a devastating modern plague, the original title followed the story of Joel, a bereaved father who helps escort 14-year-old Ellie across a post-apocalyptic America.
They’re forced to contend with zombie-style cannibal humans that have been taken over by a mutant fungus, as well as hostile people, too.
Ellie is immune to the fungus, which turns anyone who inhales its spores into a zombie. She is therefore a beacon of hope in the fight to find a cure.
Joel and Ellie embark on a journey across America to a laboratory in Utah operated by a revolutionary militia group called the Fireflies.
It’s hoped that a team of scientists there can use the teenager’s brain tissue to develop a vaccine for the fungal plague.
However, as doctors begin operating on her, they reveal that the procedure will kill her.
Joel has a change of heart, massacring all those at the lab in order to save his friend’s life – and ending any hope for a cure.
The Last of Us HBO show
HBO announced in March 2020 that it was working on a TV adaptation of the hit gaming franchise, The Last of Us.
Game lead writer Neil Druckmann is penning the series alongside Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin.
Acclaimed Beanpole director Kantemir Balagov will direct the pilot following HBO’s decision to commission a full series in November.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to partner with Craig [Mazin] … and PlayStation to bring the virtual world of this acclaimed game to life,” HBO’s Casey Bloys told The Hollywood Reporter.
In February 2021, the lead actors for the adaptation were announced.
Mandalorian leading man Pedro Pascal will play the brooding Joel, who’s tasked with smuggling teenager Ellie – played by Game of Thrones breakout star Bella Ramsey – across quarantine zones in a zombie-infested America.
Druckmann confirmed the casting in a series of tweets on February 11.
It’s unclear how closely the show will follow the events of developer Naughty Dog’s games.
The blockbuster titles are renowned for their gripping plots, violent gameplay and popular lead characters.
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Are you excited for the Last of Us remake? Let us know in the comments!
