It looks like Sony just can’t let go of its beloved post-apocalyptic drama franchise, continuing to milk it dry in the years to come. Recent reports from leaker @billbil_kun indicate that an upcoming PlayStation 5 bundle will include both The Last of Us Part I and Part II Remastered as physical discs.
The rumored dual-pack is said to cost €109.99 or $119.99 and will initially be available in Europe and North America. It may also coincide with the limited-edition The Last of Us controller that was just announced.
Fans speculate that this special edition could be related to The Last of Us Part III or perhaps something entirely new within the franchise. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case, as Naughty Dog is currently focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and a Part III remains unlikely for now, with Neil Druckmann still considering the series’ future.
Others suspect this could be a limited-edition PlayStation 5 Pro featuring a Firefly aesthetic and engraved with the series’ iconic symbols, such as Ellie’s tattoo—an idea that holds more credibility than Part III speculation.
This is yet another instance of Sony and PlayStation refusing to let go of one of their most prized IPs. The Last of Us has long been a record-breaking franchise alongside God of War and Uncharted. Its success even led to an award-winning TV adaptation that introduced the series to a new audience.
It’s clear they aren’t pulling it away from their loyal fanbase—but at this point, many of us (myself included) are tired of seeing the same editions repackaged over and over. The franchise now has a total of what, eight iterations? These include the original games, remastered versions, and the TV show. Sony truly loves Ellie and Joel’s story.
While continued investment in the 12-year-old franchise is a good thing, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they’re running out of ideas. If it’s so profitable, Part III should have been their priority. Instead, Sony has opted for yet another safe attempt at making money, while Naughty Dog has gone years without releasing a new product following the abrupt cancellation of its multiplayer project.
Like Atlus with Persona and Square Enix with Final Fantasy, these companies love milking their biggest franchises dry without truly exploring new opportunities. While not inherently bad, this approach is becoming exhausting—it sidelines other great titles languishing in Sony’s backlog, titles that could benefit from the same attention, like Bloodborne Remastered.