If you're one of those excited about The Last of Us Part II, then be prepared to get even more excited. It appears the game is about to enter the final stages of development. While no actual release date has been given, this announcement gives us a good idea of when the game could be launched.
In a post on Twitter, The Last of Us Part II Co-Game Director Anthony Newman revealed that the team is currently opening a number of positions, with the goal of helping developer Naughty Dog wrap up development. The positions being offered reveal a lot of personnel need in the areas of Programming, as well as Art/Animation. Naughty Dog is also looking for those in Game Design, particularly when it comes to Narrative Design and Level/Environment Design.
Newman revealed that he is particularly excited about the Melee Animator position, as he guarantees that whoever gets the position is sure to work "on some *dope* animations."
Lot of awesome positions open to help us close out this game... I especially want to highlight the Melee Animator position, I guarantee you will be working on some *dope* animations working with my good friend @Leethul ?️? pic.twitter.com/vmlVkJlfTl
— Anthony Newman (@BadData_) May 10, 2019
It goes without saying that this does not really give any timeframe, since the game is not yet actually finished. However, the fact that Naughty Dog is saying that they plan to close the game means they are on the home stretch. If all goes well, our best guess is that the game could get a release late this year. Unfortunately, the reality is that development could even take another year or more. Game development is a long and complicated process, after all.
It was back in April when Naughty Dog VP and game Director Neil Druckmann revealed, also through Twitter, that they had shot and wrapped the final scene for the game. The message was accompanied by a photo of actors Troy Baker (Joel) and Ashley Johnson (Ellie) still in their motion capture suits.
The Last of Us Part II is an action-adventure game in a post-apocalyptic America. The story is set five years after The Last of Us and follows a now grown-up Ellie. The game was first announced in 2016 through a trailer. Druckmann has said that while the first game focuses on love, the new game now puts emphasis on hate.
