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The Last of Us 2 Mentioned in Former Naughty Dog Developer's Resume

Former lead character artist's LinkedIn profile may have inadvertently revealed a sequel.

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A sequel to Naughty Dog's acclaimed action-survival game The Last of Us may be in the works, according to the resume of former Naughty Dog lead character artist Michael Knowland. According to Knowland's LinkedIn profile, Naughty Dog had produced prototype designs for use in The Last of Us 2 earlier this year.

Knowland had joined Naughty Dog in October 2011 and worked on The Last of Us as well as Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. At present, he is a senior character artist at Avalanche Studios and is working on Just Cause 3.

Knowland left Naughty Dog in April this year. His departure followed on from a number of high-ranking staff who left the studio, including Uncharted 4 director Justin Richmond, writer Amy Hennig, lead artist Nate Wells, and actor Todd Stashwick.

The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann said in a Reddit AMA last February that there was a "50/50" possibility of a sequel. Naughty Dog has since confirmed it is working on two new "brand-new experiences" one of which is Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, due to launch sometime next year.

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Gravity_Slave

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I hope they steer clear of Ellie and Joel's characters and start fresh. New characters, new location and perhaps even a different timeline? Maybe a couple of weeks after the outbreak where people are scattered and forming groups, where most electric is still on. It would be frantic and upsetting (in a good way)

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FCB2513

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Here's the thing though, I still haven't let go of them, I just can't, not having them in the sequel would be the mistake.

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Gravity_Slave

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@fcb2513

Who says they can't throw in some back story nuggets and cameo's in of them? The thing you also have to remember is when the creator hits the proverbial nail on the head the 1st time, it opens up the door to screwing it up on the 2nd or 3rd. Look at Star Wars.

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TheExxorcist

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Can't go wrong there... At All.

Great game!

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Gravity_Slave

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I'm sure that's what everyone said about the new Star Wars movies...then there was Jar Jar...yeahhh.

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Marky360

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Man I have absolutely NO interest in a Last of Us sequel the 1st one was boring as ****. Now a prequel detailing the moments immideately after (Spoiler) Joel's daughter dies would be interesting.

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jackzor123

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I think it would be very hard for them to top the Joel/Ellie story in a direct sequel, but another story in the same world could work. Perhaps a prequel looking at Joel and his brother's relationship in the 20 years prior to the first game. Hope they do something with it though because I loved the first game.

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TheExxorcist

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The did leave the ending open. Joel and Ellie walked off into Joels supposed (Safe) town...

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oldtobie

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<< LINK REMOVED >> If they did stuff with the ending it would ruin it.

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Stiler

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I know some people are against sequels but TLOU was great and I could see great potential for both a direct-sequel or simply a new game set within the same world but telling a completely new story around new characters.


Hell, I Think a new game would be amazing if it was told from the perspective of Ish, that was one of the most memorable "side-stories" and it was left open to tell a great story.


If you don't remember, Ish is the guy that lived in the Sewer area where you come across his notes and it reveals a great storyline about a small group of people that he helped survive there and build up a little community......


(SPOILERS , don't read if you don't want to know about it):



After they get overun and things start to go to hell he ends up escaping (leaving the sign at the exit not to go in), you never find out what became of him but that he did indeed "survive" and make it out.



So it'd be a perfect way to tell a new storyline while keeping it connected in some way to the first game.

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Quneibi

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Wasn't the body you find right before going into the sewer next to the boat was Ish's?

I remember the side sorry starting from where you find Ish's body all the way to the exit that leads to town - reverse storyline. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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Stiler

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Nope, that wasn't him.

He made it out (the way you exit the sewer) into that little suburb area along with Susan and a few others.

The notes stop being found and you never know really what became of him.

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northArrow

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A successful game might get a sequel? .....I've never heard of such things!

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TechS3ek

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what a huge mistake by ND if they actually planning on making another TLOU.

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Kunakai

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'm sure they'll feel sorry for themselves when they make another pile of money! :P

Seriously though, they've done well in the grand scheme of things as far as I'm aware, the DLC was well received and they have a good portfolio of franchises under their belt. Granted, many of the higher tier talent that worked on those projects seem to have left the studio, which could well lead to a failure. Either ways, I'm sure they wouldn't let a game they didn't feel was hitting their expected level of quality leave the studio.

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Deadlysyns87

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Why there are tons of other Stories to tell in a Zombie outbreak.

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WolfgarTheQuiet

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A sequel does not mean continuation of the story from the game before. It can possibly contain a character that you maybe came across once in the game or it does not have to. It can be same universe at a different time frame and different location.

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mark5225

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Exciting maybe a reveal at e3 this year.

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PointingMonkey

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Wouldn't get your hopes up if I was you. It does say that the guy was prototyping head sculptures before he left. I think the most we can hope for is maybe an announcement trailer and even that would be a stretch.

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Too-DementeD

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Doubt it, they'll want all the focus to be on Uncharted 4.

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Too-DementeD

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Well, it doesn't really confirm anything even if it's true that he was working on it.
In the past, Naughty Dog have tried and tested games out in early stages to see if they work or not, before scrapping them altogether.

Since it says he only worked on it for 1 month, that could very well be the case here.
I'm not gonna believe in a Last of Us 2 until it's officially announced.

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Pondelicious

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All this means is that designs have been drawn up for a sequel, which of course they have. Naughty Dog would be stupid not to create concepts and designs for a sequel. Note how it says 'prototype'. Would be different if it said 'Last of Us 2, 1 year'. Doesn't mean that a sequel is going to happen or is in full development.

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DiamondDM13

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If true, I really hope it doesn't involve Joel and Ellie...I would like them to make a new story, I feel like their story is over and done.

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WolfgarTheQuiet

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<< LINK REMOVED >> No they couldnt, their story finished with that secret screening, happy ever after haha.

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parabol69

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And water is wet. Great "journalism", fellas.

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deathstream

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We all know they are going to do it and anyone with half a brain knows what the plot will be.

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WolfgarTheQuiet

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<< LINK REMOVED >> What will be the plot. Please share you knowledge with this guy, i beg of you haha

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andmcq

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OMG, really? A sequel to perhaps the most successful and identifiable game on the Ps3? I'm so surprised, this is definitely news. I greatly anticipate more groundbreaking news in the future.

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WolfgarTheQuiet

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<< LINK REMOVED >> It does not mean continuation of the story or any of the characters from the game before.

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Fantasy_Dragon

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I know. I wish gaming sites would stop doing game announcements. We should just know when games are releasing.

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andmcq

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Agreed.

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KH1337

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finally !! and thank god no more stupid mulitplayer DLC

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MasterBaites69

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I thought this was naughty dog's new ip: << LINK REMOVED >>

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MasterBaites69

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D

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