'The Last Of Us 2' will include new locations, more terrifying enemies and other protagonists

The Last Of Us II — "The Last Of Us 2" was revealed during PlayStation Experience in December 2016. Facebook/The Last Of Us Part II

“The Last Of Us 2” put the gaming world into a frenzy as Naughty Dog confirmed the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story, which began in 2013. Virtually beyond this, there has hardly been any confirmation about the setting, plot or gameplay -- which is why fans have taken to creating their own theories instead.

As Trusted Reviews has reported, one interesting aspect that game developer Naughty Dog can explore is an entirely new setting. In the original game, it was suggested that the entire world was hit by the cordyceps infection, which turned humans into zombie-like creatures. Only a small portion of the infected world was thereby explored in “The Last Of Us.” It would be interesting to see what else is going on in different locations and how Joel and Ellie will partake in other issues.

The publication also noted that the infected might be more gruesome in “The Last Of Us 2.” With five years between the original game and the sequel, it is possible that the infected developed throughout the years and have more terrifying aspects to their persona. On the other hand, it is also a theory that there will be another group of humans other than the Fireflies that will pose as a threat to the protagonists.

And because of the two points, it is possible that Naughty Dog will introduce new characters into the franchise as well. Whether enemies or friends of Joel and Ellie, other characters will need to be included to make the sequel more exciting. As much as players loved playing Joel and Ellie and unraveling their story, it would be disservice to the franchise if the game developer were to focus solely on them once again.

Moreover, if Naughty Dog were in this for the long haul, it is vital for them to introduce new characters. If there are any plans for a franchise beyond “The Last Of Us 2,” new characters will help make this possibility easier and introducing them in the upcoming title will allow audiences to warm up to them. It was a relief for most players when creative director Neil Druckmann announced Joel and Ellie’s return -- it might not bode well with players if a third chapter will explore entirely new personas right off the bat.

Hardly anything about “The Last Of Us 2” is confirmed at this point, particularly its release date. Druckmann even went on the record and posted an entry on the PlayStation Blog to say so. “It’s still early days for the project,” he said. “The game’s release is a ways off.”