Today isThe Last of UsDay, a holiday dedicated to celebrating Naughty Dog’s modern gaming classicThe Last of Usand its sequel. In previous years the event went by the nameOutbreak Day, but Naughty Dog decided to rename itgiven the current state of the world in regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
September 26 holds specific significance within the lore ofThe Last of Us,because that is the day the cordyceps fungus broke out and created the monsters that players fight in the game. The real-life holiday is usually marked by new merchandise, artwork, and fan contributions. This year is no different, and a renowned gaming artist has provided their own unique treatment of theThe Last of Us' beloved characters.
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Kojima Productions’ Yoji Shinkawa released a piece of art featuring Joel, Ellie, and Abby. Shinkawa is perhaps best known for his iconic watercolor style featured throughout theMetal Gear Solidfranchise,which may be making a comeback on the PlayStation 5. Shinkawa previously worked for Konami withMetal Gear’s creator Hideo Kojima, but followed him when he left to form an independent studio and work onDeath Stranding.
Other things announced to celebrateTheLast of Usinclude an exclusive vinyl ofThe Last of Us 2’ssoundtrack with a two-sided cover, one side featuring Ellie and the other featuring Abby. There are alsoupcoming statues from Gaming Heads and Japanese company Mamegyorai.The Last of Uswill also be turned into a board game courtesy of tabletop developers CMON, though that seems to be a ways off as there are no concrete details available for it.
For fans who want to get in on the fun, Naughty Dog released an Ellie cosplay guide that features detailed looks at every part of her character design. Naughty Dog is known for detail in its games,going so far as to study and replicate real-life eyeballs. Naughty Dog is also hosting a Photo Mode Contest using the in-game camera features ofThe Last of Us 2.
Not everything has come directly from Naughty Dog however, as one fan showed with a thoughtfulsupercut of all of the happier moments inThe Last of Usseries. The world ofThe Last of Usis generally depressing and bleak (even its day of celebration commemorates a zombie outbreak), but what many fans love about the series is the heartfelt and hopeful moments that take place between Naughty Dog’s characters.
The Last of Us 2is available now on PlayStation 4.
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