The Last of Us Part 2: The Power of Gaming Storytelling

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
TLoU2 became Sony's biggest PlayStation 4 launch and is the fastest-selling game of 2020 so far, according to the document.See it on page 3
02
The document states that the game's director, Neil Druckmann, expected the divisive story to cause controversy.See it on page 3
03
The backlash to the game included tentative boycotts and death threats from fans, according to the document.See it on page 3
04
The authors argue that the LGBTI+ components in TLoU2 are embedded in the narrative, which distinguishes it from most games where such content is left to secondary characters.See it on page 7
05
The authors identify compelling storytelling as the first of four insights for content creators, requiring content that is engaging, well written and consistent.See it on page 7
06
The authors recommend cultural analysis and deep dives with consumers to prepare for backlash before controversies start.See it on page 8

Summary

This Ipsos piece, written by Lamberto Ferrara, Yas Asare Anderson and Preeti Varma, examines the reception of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part 2 (TLoU2), released in 2020, as a case study in how games handle inclusivity, representation and divisive storytelling. The document covers the game's sales, its plot changes from Part 1, including the death of Joel and the shift to Ellie and Abby as protagonists, and the backlash that followed. It also compares the game's LGBTI+ and female character portrayals with other titles and franchises.

The document states that TLoU2 became Sony's biggest PlayStation 4 launch and was the fastest-selling game of 2020 so far. It reports that the game's director, Neil Druckmann, expected the divisive response, and that the backlash included tentative boycotts and death threats from fans, including to the actress voicing Abby. The authors argue that the game's LGBTI+ elements are embedded in the narrative rather than being tokenistic or confined to secondary characters.

The authors draw four insights for content creators: compelling storytelling, leveraging the zeitgeist, being aware of cultural sensitivities, and preparing for backlash. They tie these to Ipsos research methods, including qualitative work and cultural analysis, and state that the TLoU2 reception reflects findings from several Ipsos MORI studies.