A number of major spoilers for The Last of Us Part II have leaked online.
The leaks
Videos showing pivotal moments from the game appeared online overnight. Those videos were quickly spun into detailed lists containing the game’s plot, characters, and ending.
How accurate many of the details are, and how old the leaked footage is, remains to be seen. The AU Review will not be printing any of these spoilers, nor will we be linking to them.
Rumours abound regarding the source of the leaks. The most popular rumour points to a disgruntled Naughty Dog employee unhappy with the studio’s notoriously crunch-heavy work practices. (Reminder: action without organisation is meaningless. Create or join a union if you want better working conditions.)
So what can you do if you want to remain online and unspoiled? Mute as many keywords and hashtags related to the game as possible. Character names will be a priority, as will hashtags like #TheLastofUs, #TheLastofUsPartII and #TLoU2. Be vigilant. Trolls frequently create bot accounts that automatically reply to related tweets with spoilers.
New date
Perhaps in response to the leaks, earlier today publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a new release date for the game — June 19, 2020. Naughty Dog quickly issued a statement, seemingly acknowledging the leaks.
A message from the studio: pic.twitter.com/f0TzIZXUIB
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) April 27, 2020
“It’s disappointing to see the release and sharing of pre-release footage from development. Do your best to avoid spoilers and we ask that you don’t spoil it for others,” reads the short statement.
“The Last of Us Part 2 will be in your hands soon. No matter what you see and hear, the final experience will be worth it.”
Sony announced less than a month ago that the game had been delayed indefinitely. We hope it bought the Dogs the time they needed and our hearts go out to them.
The Last of Us Part II releases June 19 exclusively on PlayStation 4.
