The Last of Us Part II Delayed

Naughty Dog's highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II has been delayed due to "logistic issues" that would see some regions receiving the game later than others. While originally expected to release 29th May, the game has now been delayed until further notice.

An official statement (shown below) and a twitter announcement from the PlayStation Twitter account confirmed the decision.

It's no secret that these "logistic issues" refer to complications arising from the Coronavirus crisis. With that considered, it's not hard to see this delay as a decision made in the name of tonal sensitivity as well as logistics. After all, a grim, post-apocalyptic tale could risk striking an unpleasant chord with too many players. If Animal Crossing: New Horizons is being hailed as the perfect game for these uncertain times, The Last of Us Part II would be among the worst.

This delay also opens up The Last of Us Part II to release as a simultaneous PlayStation 4 title and PlayStation 5 launch title. 

Even under normal circumstances, delay announcements should be treated with patience and understanding: developing a game—especially in the high-stakes AAA market—is intensely strenuous and an extra couple of months could spare the mental and physical well-being of countless hard-working employees.

The Last of Us Part II will release at some point in the future for PlayStation 4.