The Last of Us Season 2 will include content from The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s Lost Levels when it airs on HBO.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly , Naughty Dog co-president and show co-creator Neil Druckmann revealed “one element” from Lost Levels — which was cut from the original The Last of Us Part 2 but included as bonus content for the PlayStation 5 update — will (likely) be included in the second season of the HBO adaptation.
“As a tease, I will say that at least one element of the reduction level is planned [for] show,” Druckmann said. “I say that with the caveat that we haven’t started shooting the show yet, and things are subject to change based on what we ultimately feel is best for the show.”
The Lost Levels won’t feature radically different or new content, but will appear to be more similar to the expansions of other levels that Last of Us Part 2 players will be familiar with. The levels that will not be added to Remastered as a canonical story expansion, but instead as early development versions of bonus missions accessible from the main menu, are called Jackson’s Dance, Boar Hunt, and Sewer.
Jackson Dance would seemingly see Ellie walking around Jackson before her dance with Dina, Boar Hunt would likely see Ellie hunting a boar in the game’s version of the in-game diary entry that fans remember, and Sewers could possibly is a continuation of the creepy underground level that Ellie experiences as she heads to the hospital.
“The Lost Levels is very focused on offering a glimpse into the original development of The Last of Us Part 2 and enhancing fans’ appreciation for the studio’s creative work,” said Druckmann.
“While the TV show has diverged from the original works to fit the medium, and likely will again, these levels should not indicate work on the HBO show, which is separate from the development of Part 2 Remastered.”
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered also includes a roguelike mode called No Return, guitar-less gameplay, graphical improvements, DualSense integration, and more, and launches on January 19. Players who own the original PlayStation 4 game can upgrade to the PS5 version for $10, and save files can be imported.
As for the HBO show, which premiered in January 2023 and was a commercial success with critics, there is no release date for its second season, but star Bella Ramsey said it will most likely arrive in early 2025.
In our September 10 Season 1 review, IGN said, “HBO’s The Last of Us is a stunning adaptation that should delight newcomers and enrich those already familiar with Joel and Ellie’s journey.”
Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance reporter for IGN. He will talk about the Witcher all day.