Looking at the future of The Last of Us is tricky, considering that the latest title still hasn’t even finished rolling out in its entirety if rumors about DLC and multiplayer are to be believed. However, looking away from what extras like battle royale Naughty Dog may be investing in, there are a few questions that can be touched on when it comes to the next part of the zombie apocalypse narrative.
One of the biggest ways that fans are hoping to see The Last of Us expand in the future is by following the iconic characters that the series has introduced, including the controversial figure of Abby. This then runs into questions about whether or not the character should be featured in future titles, with Abby’s narrative intertwining deeper with the overall story of the series.
There are a number of pros and cons for whether or not to include the character, with one of the highest of pros for such a cinematic title being the continuation of Laura Bailey’s performance of Abby from The Last of Us 2. However, with or without stellar performances from the cast, it’s the character’s role on the narrative that is really in question when it comes to continuing their stories. To this same degree, it would be unwise to keep Joel around for the next title, through flashbacks, or tape recordings, or whatever device Naughty Dog comes up with, regardless of Troy Baker’s excellent portrayal, but Abby might not be so cut and dry.
This is where the real issue at hand is strongest, with Abby’s story in The Last of Us 2 having resolved over the course of the title that her character was introduced in. Unlike Joel and Ellie, who hadn’t answered for the actions of what happened at the Firefly hospital at the end of the first game, Abby has seen the results of her impulsive actions come back to tear at her. The entire theme found within The Last of Us 2 about the cyclical nature of revenge and how it never really ends until someone finally lets go, has her be the subject of vengeance that is allowed a bitter forgiveness.
Continuing Abby’s narrative wouldn’t feel like as much of an obvious cause and effect pushed by previous events in the series the way that The Last of Us 2‘s award winning story was. At this point in the continuity, Abby has gotten her revenge, felt the emptiness and horror that it brought her, and pledged to better herself with Lev being her chance at redemption. However, Lev may be the connecting thread that could keep Abby relevant, even as her importance to the story is shifted to being in the secondary cast as opposed to a protagonist.
While Abby herself has reached the end of her arc, Lev’s journey of self-discovery is only really beginning with the confrontation of his mother and distancing from the Seraphites. This would also be a quality story to explore in some future The Last of Us 2 DLC, possibly in a similar way to how the original game’s Left Behind campaign focused on the growth of Ellie. Of course, moving this narrative forward is likely something best handled within a future title than an added extra, tacked onto the existing story after the fact.
There are few games, especially AAA titles, that have tackled an issue like Lev’s identity before, and having someone like him growing and developing in the brutal wasteland that is The Last of Us‘ post-apocalypse would be unique. It’s a story that Naughty Dog has started to tell with Lev in The Last of Us 2, and absolutely should be continued if the series decides to move forward with a new title. Considering how closely the two are connected now, this would be excuse enough to keep Abby around beyond The Last of Us 2, despite of the character’s controversial nature.
It’s no secret that players have had mixed reactions to everything about the character, from the brutal way she is introduced, to details as minute as Abby’s physical appearance in The Last of Us 2. As a character, she fills the roles that she is meant to fairly well, but the sudden swap from villain to protagonist can be slightly jarring for players. The result is that Abby has become an incredibly controversial character when discussing the game, or even Naughty Dog’s entire catalogue and the depictions of women.
Regardless of what side of the controversy that any players might be on, including Abby in the next title does bring all of the negativity that some reactionary fans have attached to her. Considering the many controversies surrounding The Last of Us 2, including conspiracy theories about The Game Awards, as well as a backlash for Naughty Dog’s history of crunch, it may be unwise to invite more negativity. Of course, all of this can be course corrected by allowing the addition of Abby or Lev to expand on one of the most satisfying aspects of The Last of Us 2.
Naughty Dog worked tirelessly to hide that fact that the player would essentially be controlling two completely different characters throughout The Last of Us 2. By having players not only controlling the familiar character of Ellie, but also the new, hulking figure that is Abby, the developer managed to add a whole new level of complexity to gameplay. At the halfway point, when the player switches perspectives, they now have to learn an entirely new set of weapons and abilities to slip through enemy territory with.
So, keeping Abby around can allow Naughty Dog to expand on the differences between the two mirroring campaigns, with each character having completely different playstyles and tactics. This is already the case to a degree, though there tends to be a lot of overlap in strategy in The Last of Us 2 between Abby and Ellie, regardless of who or what they are fighting. However, with this now firmly established into the series, the next game can lean into this even harder, making the two or more playable characters entirely unique from each other.
The Last of Us 2 is available now for PS4.
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