The Last of Us 2 Release Date Confirmed

Sony confirmed that The Last of Us Part II will be out on June 19. Writing on the PlayStation Blog, head of SIE Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst also revealed that the release of Ghost of Tsushima has been pushed back by a few weeks to July 17.

The announcement comes just hours after The Last of Us Part II‘s story was allegedly leaked online. The leak is said to contain nearly every cutscene from the game as well as a breakdown of the title’s levels. While neither Sony or Naughty Dog have confirmed or even commented on the leak, it’s a potentially huge breach of one of the industry’s most secretive projects.

The game was originally set to release on May 29 before it was delayed due to logistical issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to Naughty Dog, these logistical issues would have affected the release of the game around the world.

“Even with us finishing the game, we were faced with the reality that due to logistics beyond our control, we couldn’t launch The Last of Us Part II to our satisfaction,” Naughty Dog wrote in a letter to fans at the time. “We want to make sure everyone gets to play The Last of Us Part II around the same time, ensuring that we’re doing everything possible to preserve the best experience for everyone. This meant delaying the game until such a time where we can solve these logistic issues.”

While we predicted that it would be a long while before fans could get their hands on the game, it looks like Sony found a way around the logistical issues. Hulst didn’t note in the blog post how the publisher planned to handle the physical release of the game in places where lockdowns might still be an issue in June. Of course, players will most likely still be able to download the game digitally regardless of whether the shelter-in-place order has been lifted in their area.

“As our teams at Sony Interactive Entertainment and Worldwide Studios approach development milestones and confront a world changed by COVID-19, we find ourselves having to adapt to today’s ever-changing environment,” Hulst wrote. “I want to personally congratulate and thank both the teams at Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch Productions on their achievements, as we know it’s not an easy feat to reach the finish line under these circumstances. Both teams have worked hard to deliver world-class experiences, and we can’t wait to see what you think of them when they release in just a few short months.”

We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.