The Last of Us 2 Might Release in February 2020, Reports Say

By Joseph Knoop

It’s looking like The Last of Us Part 2 may release in February 2020, according to multiple reports.

Originally reported on by Eurogamer, three separate reports or comments indicate an early 2020 release date for highly anticipated The Last of Us 2. First is a recent interview from the Critical Role YouTube channel between voice actor Ashley Johnson (who plays Ellie in The Last of Us and plays multiple character in Critical Role) and Critical Role creative producer Brian Foster, who are also engaged to one another.

In the interview, Foster asks Johnson when the game is coming out, and Johnson begins to mouth what appears to be the word “February,” making a distinct “feh” sound before Foster actually interrupts her with a follow-up comment. Skip to the one hour and seven minute mark to see the exchange.

Lending a little more credibility to that possible slip of the tongue is an earlier report from Kotaku’s Jason Schreier. Back in May, Schreier’s source informed him that Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima’s upcoming game, would release in November, which turned out to be true. Along with that, Schreier says he was told that The Last of Us 2 was bumped to “early 2020, possibly February?”

Daniel Ahmad, a video game industry analyst for Niko Partners, later posted on ResetEra that February 2020 is the current internal date at developer Naughty Dog for the Last of Us 2. It’s not clear how Ahmad came about this information, however.

Putting The Last of Us 2 into early 2020 wouldn’t be unlikely. The first game released on the PS3 in June 2013. With Death Stranding, Jedi: Fallen Order, Pokémon: Sword and Shield in November 2019, and Call of Duty and Outer Wilds releasing late October, it would make sense for even a huge title like The Last of Us 2 to allow itself some breathing room early next year.

Joseph Knoop is a writer and producer for IGN, and he’s gonna need a lot of Strongjaw Ale to tide him over til 2020.