Sony delays The Last of Us Part II indefinitely
It's also delaying Marvel's Iron Man VR.
- I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.
We're sad too, Ellie.
Sony has delayed the release of upcoming PlaySgames The Last of Us Part II and Marvel's Iron Man VR. According to the gaming giant, the current crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic means it can't provide "launch experience our players deserve," Sony tweeted Thursday.
Update: SIE has made the difficult decision to delay the launch of The Last of Us Part II and Marvel's Iron Man VR until further notice. Logistically, the global crisis is preventing us from providing the launch experience our players deserve.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 2, 2020
The Last of Us Part II, developed by Sony and Naughty Dog, had originally been slated to come out in February but was delayed until May while the developers spent more time working on the game. Now, as COVID-19 rages, the game's release is postponed "until further notice."
Naughty Dog tweeted that game development was nearly complete.
"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," the developer said. "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."
A message from us about the delay of The Last of Us Part II: pic.twitter.com/aGsSRfmJ8a
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) April 2, 2020
On the PlayStation Blogcast on Saturday, game director Neil Druckmann says no decision has been made about whether to release The Last of Us Part II digitally.
"We're right now looking at all sorts of different options," he said. "What's the best way to get it to all of our fans as soon as possible, but that's going to take time to shift and figure this out."
A message on the Sony Support page states that the company will begin refunding preorders for The Last of Us Part II and Iron Man VR made through the PlayStation Store. An email will be sent out to those who preordered the games.
The Last of Us Part II takes place five years after the first game. This time around, players will take the role of 19-year-old Ellie as she contends with a mysterious cult that's come into power in the post-apocalyptic United States.
Coronavirus updates
