The Last of Us 2: Is It Too Late for Single-Player DLC?

Since its release, The Last of Us 2 has become the fastest-selling PlayStation exclusive in history and the most awarded video game of all time, dethroning the previous record holder, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Although the game has been divisive and controversial, there’s no denying that as far as sales and critical acclaim go, it has been a massive success.

Because of player response to the game and the success of “Left Behind,” the story-driven DLC added to The Last of Us after its 2013 release, fans have been hoping that The Last of Us 2 might also get a single-player DLC. Neil Druckmann announced back in June that Naughty Dog had no plans for a DLC, but fans have remained hopeful in speculating if and when one might be announced.

Nine months after its release, however, no additional content has been announced for The Last of Us 2 other than an upgrade that gave the game a few extra difficulty settings and a permadeath mode. Fans still want to see a DLC come to life, and “Left Behind” set a precedent for DLCs within the franchise. A creative fan even made a fake DLC trailer for The Last of Us 2, which only made fans long for the real thing even more.

The Last of Us originally released on June 14, 2013 and established itself as one of the best games of the PlayStation 3 generation. The “Left Behind” DLC, focusing on Ellie and her friend Riley, came out on February 14, 2014. It is now included for free with the purchase of The Last of Us Remastered. “Left Behind” gave players valuable and impactful insight into Ellie’s past and the loss she experienced when she and Riley were bitten by infected. Riley began to turn and Ellie didn’t, causing her to realize she was immune to the cordyceps infection.

This was a critical moment for players to experience, as Ellie’s immunity is what drove the story of the first game. Ellie struggles with survivor’s guilt through the second game as well, which leads to her fractured relationship with Joel. “Left Behind” also revealed Ellie’s sexual orientation, an important aspect of her story in The Last of Us 2 and a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in AAA video games.

In addition to providing insight into Ellie’s past, “Left Behind” let players step into Ellie’s shoes as she fights to find help for Joel, who has been fatally injured. Letting players see some of what happened in the several months between Joel’s injury and Ellie’s first encounter with David helped provide some context, as well as showcased the lengths Ellie was willing to go to in order to help Joel. In its short playtime, “Left Behind” expanded on The Last of Us story and gave players more time with Ellie after spending so much time playing as Joel. Fans loved it, and some still hope that The Last of Us 2 will receive similar treatment.

If Naughty Dog were to release a DLC with a similar gap between the release of the main game and “Left Behind,” a DLC for The Last of Us 2 would already be in player’s hands. Naughty Dog has missed that opportunity already, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for a DLC. If one was released, the developer would have no problem selling copies, and there are also several options to feature poignant character-development similar to what “Left Behind” did.

Most players would expect a single-player DLC to focus on Ellie, the protagonist of The Last of Us 2. It’s unlikely that Naughty Dog would choose to focus on the time Ellie spent growing up in Jackson between the first and second games, because The Last of Us 2 was already filled with flashbacks covering that. Having another flashback in the form of a DLC might weaken the effect Naughty Dog tried to achieve through those chapters. Players also got a good idea of what Ellie and Joel’s relationship looked like in Jackson, so a DLC there might not add much.

It’s also unlikely that a story-driven DLC would show players what happened after Ellie left the farm in the conclusion of The Last of Us 2. Since there is probably a third installment somewhere on the horizon, the answer to that question is best left to The Last of Us 3. The best place for an Ellie-focused DLC would be between leaving Seattle and moving to the farm with Dina and her baby, J.J. Almost a year would have gone by, and players have no idea how the characters got from Seattle to the picturesque farm. Dina and Ellie’s relationship was also a highlight of The Last of Us 2 for many players, and a DLC set here could provide more insight into how their relationship grew and matured.

A narrative DLC could show Ellie and Dina settling down on their farm and seeking a peaceful, domestic life. The more relaxed story could be contrasted with the journey from Seattle back to Jackson, where due to her wound and pregnancy, Dina would have had to depend on Ellie and Tommy to get her home safely. Showing these events would make Ellie’s decision to seek revenge again that much more heartbreaking and emphasize all she sacrificed in her search for revenge. Dina is also likely to make an appearance in a third installment, so it would be nice to know more about the life they built together.

Naughty Dog could choose to go in a completely different direction with a DLC, however. Although Ellie is the protagonist of The Last of Us 2, Abby’s story takes up about half of the game. At the end of the game, Abby and Lev leave Santa Barbara in hopes of finding the Fireflies. Both of them are emaciated and near death, having suffered torture at the hands of the Rattlers.

Given the circumstances, it feels optimistic to hope that they found the Fireflies and achieved a somewhat happy ending, meaning there’s a huge question mark over Abby and Lev’s ultimate fate. They may return in a future game assuming they survived, but it would likely pick up after they find the Fireflies and assimilate into their ranks. There is so much opportunity for an Abby and Lev DLC; it would deepen their relationship and clarify the parallel to Joel and Ellie, show what became of the Fireflies, and place more of a spotlight on Lev, a transgender character.

If Naughty Dog wants to establish her as a character that’s here to stay, a DLC focusing on her journey and relationship with Lev would make a powerful statement and set up Abby’s appearance in The Last of Us 3. Fans have theorized that the third game could involve Ellie finding the Fireflies on her own; having Abby there would make for a very tense reunion.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely that The Last of Us 2 will be getting a narrative DLC any time soon. Neil Druckmann’s statement in June combined with the fact that nothing has been announced, The Last of Us 2 might stand on its own with the multiplayer factions DLC, whenever that releases. Despite the success of “Left Behind,” Naughty Dog doesn’t have a consistent history of releasing narrative DLCs; none of the four Uncharted games had one. Instead, Uncharted had a spinoff in the form of The Lost Legacy. It’s entirely possible that the developer could go that route instead and make a spinoff set in the same world but focusing on different characters, or Naughty Dog may have a new IP in the works that fans have yet to hear about.

If Naughty Dog decides to move forward with a DLC for The Last of Us 2, it could help set the stage for The Last of Us 3 and give even more depth to the characters, but there’s no reason to rush. There was a huge seven year gap between The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2, but the sequel was still one of the most anticipated games of 2020. Naughty Dog could release a DLC three years from now, and fans would still be excited about it. The Last of Us has become such a popular PlayStation franchise that there’s not really a deadline for additional content, and with the HBO TV adaptation underway, it may even continue to increase in popularity. It might be better to wait, not rush anything, and capitalize on the hype that will come from the show.

Fans may not be revisiting Ellie (or Abby) soon, but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen. Just because Naughty Dog didn’t have any plans when the game released doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plans now. A DLC would be an exciting thing to release alongside an announcement for The Last of Us 3, or even in celebration of the HBO show’s release. The Last of Us isn’t a thing of the past just yet, so may the speculation continue.

The Last of Us 2 is available now on PS4, and is compatible with PS5.

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