The latest updates for "The Last of Us 2" reveal more gameplay details and features from its publisher, Naughty Dog. Game director and writer, Neil Druckmann told Buzzfeed that the sequel's main protagonist, Ellie, will have a new A.I. partner in the story.

Co-writer Halley Gross also talks the about the level of violence and intense scenes in the game. The sequel's story will take place five years after the first game as Ellie learns to cope with her new surroundings, while facing new dangers from rival factions, cannibals, and mutated creatures.

Naughty Dog officially announced the sequel at the 2016 PlayStation Experience event and revealed a full demo in this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo event.

Ellie's new companion

According to Buzzfeed, "The Last of Us 2" will feature a new non-playable companion for Ellie in the story. In the first game, Ellie was the NPC partner of Joel and the sequel will likely feature the same dynamic as them when they explore new terrain, solving puzzles, and fighting enemy units.

“Well, so, Ellie used to be an NPC, but she’s the protagonist in this story, so the player is controlling Ellie," Neil Druckmann told Buzzfeed. "Umm, it’s safe to say with the game that we made in the past that there will be some NPC with you in this story, even though we’re not showing [the NPC] in this demo.”

Many video game fans are hoping that Joel will be back in the sequel as Druckmann carefully explained his absence and he did not confirm nor deny the possibility of his return.

Not to mention, that Joel's character actor, Troy Barker, did several motion capture scenes for the game.

Whether Naughty Dog will bring back Joel as the NPC partner for Ellie, or introduce a new character is left uncertain. The video game publisher will likely reveal more details about it soon.

Violence in 'The Last of Us' sequel

According to Game Rant, Halley Gross described "The Last of Us 2" as "cyclical nature of violence" with the idea that violent factor of the story will deeply affect Ellie's growth as a character. The first game's theme was about love in which Joel exhibited a parental care around Ellie after he lost his daughter from the outbreak.

The sequel is about hate and how it will challenge Ellie's resolve in her struggles for survival and peacetime.

Druckmann added that they wanted to use that violence to make the gameplay more "fun" and the scenes to be more "engaging" for the player's experience in the story. Their actions will also have an effect on the story's progress throughout their journey.

The sequel will feature smarter and deadlier enemies, as well as, a multiplayer content like the first title.
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