Naughty Dog shows off a slightly more… whimsical alternate ending for ‘The Last of Us’

By Ryan Fleming September 26, 2013

naughty dog shows off a slightly more whimsical alternate ending for the last of us sunset

Earlier this year at PAX Prime, Naughty Dog showed off a clip at its PAX Prime panel that featured an alternate ending for The Last of Us. That video has now been released.

Two things worth noting before you watch this clip: First, since this is an ending, alternate or not, it should go without saying that it is spoiler heavy. Simply put, you should not watch this unless you have completed the game. Second, this ending does have a few key differences from the one that made it into the game, but really it is meant to be lighthearted and not a serious alternate ending. Don’t expect Ellie to grab an LMG and lay waste to those around her, for aliens to appear, or anything like that. Call that managing expectations.

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With that said, beyond the ending itself, the clip offers an interesting look at the work that went on behind-the-scenes of The Last of Us, including how the characters were fleshed out and digitized.

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Action Games

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

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The Last of Us Part I makes Part II’s flaws much more apparent

Ellie aiming a rifle.

The Last of Us Part I may not be meaningfully different from the original game or its 2014 remaster, but the context around the franchise has notably changed. That’s because of The Last of Us Part II, a sequel that’s spurred as much critical praise as it has heated debate. The 2020 release built on the first game’s strong foundation by delivering a more complex story that further muddied the “good guys vs. bad guys” trope we see in so much media. It's a story about cyclical violence where Joel’s actions at the end of the first game directly impact Ellie on her own misguided thirst for blood.

It's a bold game, one that’s significantly longer and larger to fit in all of its ideas. I respected Naughty Dog’s ambition when I played the sequel two years ago, but walked away feeling like it was as swollen as one of the series’ Bloaters. After revisiting both The Last of Us and its excellent Left Behind DLC in the new PS5 remake, I feel more sure of my original critique. The Last of Us works because it's a lean and focused game. Part II, on the other hand, makes it clear that excess is Naughty Dog’s Achilles' heel.
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ps now vs xbox game pass the last of us remastered

Joel has managed to survive for over 25 years in the Clicker invested world, but even he can learn a few new tricks. He's already adept with any gun you can get your hands on and can slap together basic materials to make some useful tools, but just about everything you have access to can be made better with the right training. Unfortunately, it's a little late for Joel and Ellie to enroll in a survival course, so reading up is the next best option.

The Last of Us Part 1 has 12 hidden Training Manuals you can collect that all improve one of your tools in a meaningful way. Some of these are so powerful that you'll wonder how you managed without them, and yet some are so well hidden that you can go through the game multiple times without finding them all. If you want to become an expert Boy Scout, turn on your Listen Mode and pay close attention to our guide on finding all the Training Manuals in The Last of Us Part 1.
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Turn on these 6 accessibility settings in The Last of Us Part I before you start

A white arrow shows Joel where to go in The Last of Us Part I.

The Last of Us Part I is out now on PlayStation 5 and it’s a bit of a strange release. In our review, we noted that it’s an excellent game, but not exactly an excellent remake. It's full of impressive, but superfluous tech improvements that don’t meaningfully change the 2013 classic. For players who have experienced it before, $70 is a high price to pay for a game that seemingly brings nothing new to the table.

The Last of Us Part I - Accessibility Trailer | PS5 Games