Tag: The Last Of Us

The worst video game characters of all time

Grand stories and clever heroes may linger in our minds after the credits roll, but the worst video game characters leave their own mark too

Grand stories and clever, sympathetic heroes may linger in our minds long after the credits roll, but the worst video game characters leave a mark just as indelible. They may be poorly written, with thin personalities, unbelievable motivations, or dialogue that grates on your soul. Some are just terrible people in general, characters who, though not the villain or even a threat, certainly do their best to make life more difficult than it needs to be for the heroes of the piece. These are the worst characters we won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

 

Naughty Dog releases The Last of Us Part 1 PC specs

The Last of Us Part 1 PC specs run the gamut from fairly reasonable to restrictive ultra and performance recommendations

The Last of Us Part 1 PC specs run the gamut from fairly reasonable to restrictive ultra and performance recommendations. Naughty Dog announced the specs with an infographic in a new PlayStation Blog post and outlined some of the PC-specific features in store.

The Last of Us PC port supports 4K resolutions and wide and ultrawide setups, along with support for AMD FSR 2.2 and Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution. You can plug in your DualSense and get the same haptic feedback as you’d get from the PS5 too.

The minimum to hit 30 fps and 720p is a GeForce 1050Ti or GTX 970 with an i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. The recommended settings require a substantially more powerful graphics card. Naughty Dog says you need an RTX 3060  or RX5800, though performance mode requirements are a bit more forgiving.

You can get by with an RTX 2080Ti in performance mode, though Naughty Dog bumped the recommended RAM to 32GB if you want to hit 60fps at 1440p.

Ultra requirements are much steeper. To get 60fps at 4K, you should have a GTX 4080 or RX 7900XT, both of which would set you back by nearly $1,000. That’s just for the top-of-the-line settings, though. You can tinker with quality and adjust the display to your system’s needs.

The Last of Us Part 1 launches March 28, 2023, on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Naughty Dog previously promised Steam Deck support, though the latest blog post didn’t mention whether the horror game will run on Valve’s handheld at launch.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

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Pedro Pascal was his usual charming self despite suffering on Hot Ones

Pedro Pascal eating hot wings. What else could you ask for?

There’s arguably no actor hotter than Pedro Pascal right now, and he put it to the test on Thursday morning with a visit to the wildly popular Hot Ones show to eat some wings. Pascal, who is the lead in both Disney+’s The Mandalorian and HBO’s The Last of Us, has completely taken over the internet with his charm, interviews and decidedly handsome good looks.

If you’re unfamiliar with the premise of the show, host Sean Evans interviews stars as they eat a series of increasingly spicy chicken wings. Some of the absolute best memes — including Paul Rudd’s iconic “Hey, look at us,” moment — came from Hot Ones.

“Thank you for having me,” Pascal said to open the show. “I’m so glad for the opportunity to finally be taken seriously.”

It was a perfect episode with a perfect guest, and you should all watch it immediately.

He gave the world so much more content to create future TikTok edits with, asked to take a bite out of someone’s arm to handle the heat and said Grogu (Baby Yoda) kept stealing his scenes by being so dang cute.

Put Pedro Pascal in everything, please.

The Last of Us Season 2 may start filming in 2023

‘Yes’ – Pedro Pascal on the possibility of filming starting this year.

HBO’s The Last of Us might start filming its second season relatively soon, according to none other than Pedro Pascal.

During an interview with Collider, Pascal gave a non-commital but exciting answer about the possibility of Season 2’s filming starting in 2023.

“In the year 2023? Oh, what season are we in now? We’re getting into spring,” Pascal said. “Yes, there is a chance. Yes.”

It’s not much to go on, but hey: something to look forward to nonetheless!

Of course, HBO already renewed The Last of Us for another season, so it’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ it’ll happen. The first season was in production for several years – with filming taking place from July 2021 through June 2022 across Alberta, Canada.

We also know that Season 2 will follow the events of The Last of Us: Part 2, which most consider a much bleak game than the original. Seriously, we all know – that scene – is going to shock a lot of folks.

Thus far, the series has been a tremendous success for Sony and HBO. Many believe that the third episode, in particular, will take home loads of accolades during awards season. As for ratings, The Last of Us had the second-biggest debut for HBO since 2023 – coming in second only to House of the Dragon.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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The Last of Us’ Troy Baker believes Joel is ‘bigger than any one actor’

Pedro Pascal is killing it, according to Joel’s original actor.

Troy Baker, the actor who played Joel in The Last of Us video games, is a Pedro Pascal fan just like the rest of us – believing the character is bigger than any one performance.

During an interview with GamesRadar, Baker shared his thoughts on handing the reins to Pasal.

“What I love is that you don’t necessarily think Pedro Pascal, but the second that you mention the name, you go, ‘Okay, okay, I can see that,'” Baker said. “And then you see him as Joel, and then you watch him as Joel. And what it showed me was that, thankfully, this character is bigger than any one performance.”

“If it had just been like, I’m the only one who could do it, then we didn’t do a good enough job,” Baker continues. “This character needs to be bigger than one actor. And thankfully, not only Pedro but Bella as well as – as well as the rest of our cast – shows that this story, these characters, are bigger than just one version.”

Changes were inevitable, whether it was casting or storyline tweaks, though Baker is still in HBO’s The Last of Us. In episode eight, which aired Sunday, longtime fans no doubt recognized Baker played the character of James. It was a casting that surprised everyone, including Baker.

“It was a surprise. I really wasn’t anticipating it. I didn’t expect it,” Baker explains. “It wasn’t something where I was like, ‘You better find a role for me.’ If there was one, then great. If not, I’m happy to observe and cheer, and my voice will be above the den of all those that I know will be supporting this show. And so [Neil Druckmann] came to me and was like – I’ve been jokingly saying this all day – he said, ‘Hey man, I got a role for you.” I’m like, ‘Oh dude, thank you.'”

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Why ‘The Last of Us’ Episode 5 will drop two days early

HBO is releasing the next episode ahead of the normal release schedule.

While The Last of Us is a worldwide phenomenon at this point, it’s probably not big enough to take on Super Bowl 57 — which is why HBO is releasing the fifth episode two days early.

On Sunday, HBO announced that The Last of Us episode 5 will premiere Friday, Feb. 10, 2022, at 6 p.m. PDT // 9 p.m. EDT // 2:00 p.m. GMT. Naturally, you’ll need an active HBO Max subscription to check it out.

As ever, there’s also a brief teaser for the episode. Check it out for yourself below – but be wary of spoilers if you haven’t seen every episode released thus far.

Thus far, fans have been going absolutely gaga over HBO’s take on The Last of Us. It’s already getting a second season, likely because its first few episodes shattered multiple viewership records. Many are already predicting that Nick Offerman will receive several best supporting actor nominations come awards season next year for his performance as Bill in the third episode.

Anyone familiar with the game’s storyline will likely notice how HBO’s series deviates from the source material somewhat – though showrunner and franchise co-creator Neil Druckmann doesn’t blame anyone for being upset over the changes.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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The Last of Us actor Annie Wersching passes away at 45

She was known for roles on 24, Star Trek, Bosch, and many more.

Actress Annie Wersching, known for roles on Runaways, Star Trek: Picard, and The Last of Us, has tragically passed away at 45.

According to Deadline, Wersching died of cancer on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Her husband, Stephen Full, provided a brief statement.

“There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today. But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment,” Full said. “She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. ‘Go find it. It’s everywhere.’ And find it we shall.”

Wersching had ongoing roles in General Hospital, 24, Vampire Diaries, and more. Fans of The Last of Us recognize her as Tess for the original PS3 release, along with its PS4 remaster and PS5 remake. Neil Druckman, co-creator of the franchise, commented on Wersching’s passing and shared photos from their time working on the game.

“I miss my silly friend who helped bring Tess to life. Annie, you left us way too soon,” Druckman said on Twitter. “You will forever be part of [The Last of Us] & Naughty Dog family!”

Many are checking out and revisiting The Last of Us following the successful premiere of HBO’s TV show. Fans are still reeling from the latest episode.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Sony ‘doesn’t need FTC protection’ says Activision following The Last of Us success

HBO’s is a hit, and one executive believes it’s proof that PlayStation will succeed despite Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard.

HBO’s live-action The Last of Us adaptation continues to be a massive success for Sony – and it’s apparently evidence that PlayStation is ‘the first of us’ within video games, according to Activision Blizzard.

On Monday, Lulu Cheng Meservey, EVP of corporate affairs and CCO at Activision Blizzard, spoke about the FTC attempting to block Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. 

“The FTC has opposed the Microsoft – Activision Blizzard deal on the grounds that Microsoft could ‘suppress competition’ from rival consoles by leveraging Activision games,” Meservey explained on Twitter. “It sounds like there’s some worry that Sony’s position as market leader could be jeopardized by this deal.”

Meservey goes on to assert that HBO’s The Last of Us series reflects how PlayStation has an “unrivaled war chest of IP” and will flourish regardless of Activision Blizzard’s involvement on Sony’s consoles.

“Sony’s talent and IP across gaming, TV, movies, and music are formidable and truly impressive,” Meservey continues. “It’s no wonder they also continue to dominate as the market leader for consoles. In gaming, Sony is “the first of us” – and they will be just fine without the FTC’s protection.”

While the statement is somewhat confusing, sales for The Last of Us Part 1 did skyrocket after the show began. It could be a counterargument to Sony’s claim that the Activision Blizzard-owned franchise Call of Duty could influence a consumer’s console of choice. However, it’s worth noting that Modern Warfare 2, the latest entry, became one of 2022’s best-selling games.

These comments came up shortly after The Last of Us‘ third episode went live – which has earned glowing praise.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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Episode 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us has left fans emotionally spent

The latest episode was an emotional rollercoaster and then some.

Well, it’s been an emotionally devastating week for fans of HBO’s The Last of Us, as episode 3 was another tear-jerker.

Before we go into further details: consider this your official spoiler warning. If you’ve not seen the show yet, do so before reading on – yes, that includes those who have played The Last of Us dozens of times because there are some big-time story changes in the show.

Alright, so the third episode was about Bill (played by Nick Offerman), a paranoid survivalist who also happens to be gay. Anyone that’s played The Last of Us Part 1 will remember the chapter where Joel and Ellie meet Frank – it’s a fairly brief encounter that only goes a little into Bill’s backstory. However, the show sure does – and we learn all about the fate of Bill’s partner Frank. 

Without delving too far into spoilers, it’s a ridiculously emotional episode. Don’t believe us? Then look no further than everyone going wild on Twitter – we’ve put together a list of the best reactions below.

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HBO renews The Last of Us for season 2

The Last of Us season 2 on HBO is official, as the streaming service renewed the show following a record-breaking first two episodes

The Last of Us season 2 on HBO is officially happening, as the streaming service renewed the hit show following a record-breaking first two episodes. HBO and Naughty Dog announced the news on Twitter with a short animated graphic showcasing the series’ – apparently controversial – take on how the cordyceps fungus spreads.

As for what the second season will cover, Naughty Dog and HBO are remaining quiet. The natural assumption is that season two would look to The Last of Us Part 2 for inspiration, as the events from the first entry in the survival horror series come to a disastrous head and send one familiar character out to Seattle on a quest for blood.

Series co-creator Neil Druckmann said he’s not interested in telling stories outside the scope of the games.

However, with the HBO adaptation expanding character stories and exploring narrative threads that weren’t seen in the game, it’s possible a second season could look to fill the gap between the two PS4 games. 

Whatever the subject matter, a second season was almost guaranteed after the first two episodes broke HBO viewing records and turned into a substantial hit with fans.

We only have the announcement for now, as HBO didn’t hint at a release time frame. If you’re after more The Last of Us, the remake of Part 1 releases on March 3, 2023, for PC – right after season one ends on HBO.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

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