The Pressure Is On The Last Of Us Season 2 Thanks To Sony's Upcoming Video Game Adaptations

The Last of Us is widely considered as one of the best video games of all time and its transition into a televised format was nothing short of spectacular, but season 2 faces a lot more pressure after Sony announced it has a variety of video game adaptations in the works. HBO's hit series became a massive success when it first debuted in 2023, as the first season won multiple awards and surpassed audience expectations. Despite being released during the golden age of video game adaptations, very few performed quite as well while remaining faithful to their source material.

With season 1 picking up where the first game concluded, the show is set to continue by exploring the events of The Last of Us Part II. The story will be split over the course of two seasons, as the project looks set to continue Ellie and Joel's grueling journey while introducing Abby to the TV adaptation. While Ellie's upcoming character transformation alongside Abby's controversial arc in season 2 are bound to be major talking points when the show returns, the series still has big expectations to continue its momentum, and PlayStation's latest announcement only increases that pressure.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Has More Pressure To Perform After PlayStation’s Latest Announcements

PlayStation's Upcoming Adaptations Will Be Much More Lucrative If HBO's The Last Of Us Continues Its Success

With Sony announcing that three major PlayStation games have adaptations in the works, The Last of Us season 2 feels more important than ever. Given how polarizing the second game was, the show's return in April was already destined to cause some huge debates, but now its performance could impact these upcoming releases. Sony confirmed at CES 2025 that Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers both had live-action movies in development, while Ghost of Tsushima would be adapted in the form of an anime, meaning three massive franchises will get a similar treatment to The Last of Us.

Although season 1 was great, TLOU must continue this trajectory in season 2, as a dip in quality would make gamers a lot less convinced about PlayStation's newly announced projects. The show has earned a lot of good faith from fans of the franchise, but the next installment is a much bigger test, and failing to reach its high standards would be disastrous for Sony. The Last of Us season 2's exciting cast and impressive visuals are a promising start, but how the adaptation deals with controversial story arcs and the constantly switching narrative will be crucial.

Assuming it can generate the same amount of hype and critical acclaim as the first outing, The Last of Us season 2 will set up a fantastic future for PlayStation games in other media, but if it falls short of the mark, anticipation will already be a lot lower for these projects well before their release.

HBO’s The Last Of Us Was A Pioneer For Video Game Adaptations

The Faithful Adaptation Became A Mainstream Success, Paving The Way For Other Gaming Projects

While the rise in video game adaptations had already started before The Last of Us debuted, its mainstream success easily made it one of the biggest releases in the subgenre, and it was one of the most faithful to its source material. Hollywood has been trying to turn video game franchises into hit movies and TV shows for years, but only in recent times has there been a consistent quality around these projects. Naturally, some still fail, but for the most part, gaming adaptations are becoming more and more popular and managing to do their source material justice.

However, while shows like Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners highlighted just how good gaming-based television could be, neither of them directly followed a pre-existing story. Arcane took the incredible world-building of League of Legends and used its characters to create a gorgeous new story, while Cyberpunk introduced an almost entirely fresh group of characters. On the other hand, The Last of Us became such an exciting adaptation because it took the story of the game and masterfully recreated it in live-action, while still making some small amendments that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

In addition, The Last of Us season 1 set multiple viewership records, proving it wasn't just popular among gamers. Its mainstream attention paved the way for shows like Fallout and Secret Level to also become massive hits, and it undoubtedly was a major reason behind Sony greenlighting so many projects. God of War also has a movie in the works and Until Dawn will receive a movie in 2025, confirming that The Last of Us' huge achievements have been influential for PlayStation's franchises, and it seems likely more projects will be on the way in the future.

PlayStation’s Upcoming Adaptations Can Still Be Successful, Regardless Of The Last Of Us Season 2

Ghost Of Tsushima, Helldivers & Horizon Zero Dawn Are All Big Enough To Shine On Their Own

The Last of Us season 2 replicating the triumphs of its first outing would be great news for Sony's upcoming adaptations, but they can still flourish regardless. A highly-rated second season of the zombie series would set PlayStation's other popular IPs in good standing when it comes to transitioning into another type of medium, but each franchise is big enough on its own to succeed. Ghost of Tsushima was released to a huge ovation, and with another game in development, fans of the series could easily be tempted to give the anime a go regardless of TLOU season 2's performance.

Likewise, Helldivers II was one of 2024's most talked-about games, and now feels like the perfect time to announce a movie, while Horizon Zero Dawn has quickly become a flagship franchise for PlayStation and its gorgeous visuals are perfect for a live-action setting. All three games also have the potential to shine independently due to their quality and dedicated fan bases. Therefore, even though The Last of Us is currently PlayStation's biggest adaptation, any of these franchises could take its crown if given the care and attention they deserve.