Fancy Reading The Last of Us Instead of Playing? Naughty Dog's Got You Covered (Again)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Naughty Dog is releasing a script book of The Last of Us games, letting fans dive deep into the dialogue and story beats, potentially squeezing every last drop of love (and money) from the franchise.
Right, so you've played *The Last of Us* (Part 1 and 2, naturally). Maybe you even endured the, uh, *interpretations* of the HBO series. Perhaps you even double-dipped with the remastered versions. But what if you *really* wanted to immerse yourself in the Cordyceps-infested world, down to the very words Joel and Ellie (and Abby) spat at each other? Well, Naughty Dog, in cahoots with Dark Horse Books, is about to unleash *The Last of Us: Part 1 and Part 2 Scripts* upon the unsuspecting world.
Yep, it's a book. Full of words. Dialogue, specifically. According to Eurogamer, who broke the story, pre-orders are live on Amazon US for around $67, with a December 16th release date looming. No word yet on whether the UK price will bankrupt us all, but I've got a feeling it will be worth it.
Think of it as a deep dive. Not just any deep dive, mind you – this is a *textual* deep dive, offering a granular look at the words that shaped a post-apocalyptic masterpiece (or two, depending on your feelings about Part 2).
The official blurb promises a "re-living" of every climactic moment, from Boston to giraffe petting (still makes me tear up, fair dinkum), to *that* hospital scene. And, of course, Abby's... introduction. Brace yourselves for that one again, mates.
But wait, there's more! Troy Baker, the voice of Joel himself, is penning the foreword. Plus, there's an art gallery showcasing the talents of principal character concept artist Hyoung Nam. Oh, and the cover and page edges? Apparently designed to evoke the iconic Cordyceps fungus. Subtle, right?
Neil Druckmann, the brains behind *The Last of Us*, reckons these scripts were never intended for public consumption. They were merely guides for the development team. But now? They're sharing them with us, hoping to bring us closer to Joel, Ellie, Abby, and their… complicated world. Halley Gross, who co-wrote Part 2, gives a shout-out to the Naughty Dog team, calling the compilation a tribute to the studio's collaborative spirit. Aww, ain’t that sweet?
Look, I'm not gonna lie. Naughty Dog *is* squeezing every last drop of potential revenue from this franchise. A TV show, remasters, PC ports, and now… scripts. But here's the thing: *The Last of Us* is a bloody good story. And sometimes, you just want to see how the sausage is made, even if that sausage is made of digital zombies and heartbreaking moral choices.
So, if you're a die-hard fan, a script-reading enthusiast, or just morbidly curious, *The Last of Us: Part 1 and Part 2 Scripts* might be worth a look. Just... maybe don't read it alone in the dark. Unless you're into that sort of thing. No judgement here, mate. We're all a little Cordyceps-infected in our own ways.
*(Credit to Eurogamer for initially reporting this story. Check out their full article for the nitty-gritty details.)*
Tags: The Last of Us, Naughty Dog, Script Book, Gaming News, Story-Driven Games
Original article: Eurogamer