Update:
Sony has provided the following statement to Kotaku. While this doesn’t confirm Straley’s position on the project (if he’s indeed working on it, that is) but it does confirm that he’s taking a much-needed break.
Bruce recently decided to take some much deserved time off after shipping two critically acclaimed games in the last few years. He’s looking forward to returning to the studio soon and jumping back in on his next project.
Original story:
While we’ve already shared some details about The Last of Us Part II from the PlayStation Experience 2016 keynote yesterday, more information came to light via the developer panel that followed. You can watch the discussion in full above but if you prefer written highlights then read on.
The Last of Us Part II‘s lead character is Ellie, who is now 19 years old, so the game takes place a few years after the events of the original. Neil Druckmann said that if the first game’s theme “was the love between these two characters, this story’s the counter of that. It’s about hate.”
Part II is still in early development but there will be a gameplay reveal in the near future. Gustavo Santaolalla, the first game’s composer, will be on board once again for the sequel.
In separate but related news, Kotaku’s sources have told the publication that Bruce Straley, who co-directed the first game, is on a yearlong sabbatical. In other words, he won’t be assuming the same role in Part II. Naughty Dog and Sony haven’t responded to requests for comment on this.
