'The Last of Us 2' release date, news, rumors: Sequel not expected until 2021; future 'Uncharted 4' DLC among causes of delay

It has long been rumored that the hit post-apocalyptic thriller shooter game, "The Last of Us," will be having a sequel. Many players think that it is high time for Naughty Dog to continue the story, although based on the current developments, the much-awaited continuation of the game will not happen anytime soon.

Some fans have been expected to see "The Last of Us 2" in the next few years, while some are overly positive that the sequel will be out as early as next year. Unfortunately, they may have to extend their patience as Naughty Dog might not be able to release "The Last of Us 2" until 2021. As reported by Game N Guide, the creative director and programmer of Naughty Dog, Neil Druckmann, revealed in an interview that their team is not yet ready to develop the sequel. This is due to their commitment to finish the single player downloadable content pack (DLC) for "Uncharted 4."

With this, the fans may not be able to get any fresh information from Naughty Dog regarding the developments of "The Last of Us 2." For now, the game developer company will be focusing on their other hit game franchise before they start moving on to the other. If Naught Dog targets a 2021 release date for "The Last of Us 2," then they might be able to provide information about the sequel's contents as early as 2018.

"The Last of Us 2" may have been overdue already since the first game title was released back in 2013, but in spite of the lack of information about the sequel for quite a long time, Naughty Dog does seem to have a plan to create a follow-up game. This is contrary to other reports that "The Last of Us" sequel is already canceled, according to Yibada. Aside from "Uncharted 4," Naughty Dog may also be waiting for the arrival of the next generation of home console before they get ready for "The Last of Us 2."

As for the possible theme of "The Last of Us 2," it was reported that Druckmann will be trying to incorporate a religious plotline in his future game titles. There is a possibility that "The Last of Us" sequel will be tackling a religious theme, although this will remain unconfirmed until Naughty Dog provides the official details.