The Last of Us Part 2 leakers identified — they’re not from Sony or Naughty Dog

By Aaron Mamiit Published April 25, 2023

The people behind the massive The Last of Us Part 2 leak have been identified, and contrary to rumors, they are not affiliated with developer Naughty Dog or parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment.

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Last week, footage of The Last of Us Part 2 surfaced online, and while Sony is trying its best to take down all the videos, spoilers continue to spread across social media. The leaks include a level list and cutscenes from what appeared to be an internal build of the game, including important plot points and the game’s ending.

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Early speculation suggested that the person behind the leak was a disgruntled Naughty Dog employee, in relation to the reported crunch culture at the studio. However, it appears that the rumors were not true.

Sony has identified the leakers, who have been determined to not be connected to either Naughty Dog or Sony Interactive Entertainment, a representative for Sony told Polygon.

“SIE has identified the primary individuals responsible for the unauthorized release of TLOU2 assets. They are not affiliated with Naughty Dog or SIE. We are unable to comment further because the information is subject to an on-going investigation,” the representative said in a statement.

“We’re looking forward to when The Last of Us Part II will be in your hands and can’t wait for you to enjoy the full experience on June 19.”

While Sony has tracked down the people behind the leaks, we do not yet know what will happen to them. However, the damage may have already been done, as going online is like entering a minefield for gamers trying to avoid The Last of Us Part 2 spoilers.

How to avoid The Last of Us Part 2 leaks

The Last of Us Part 2, which was supposed to roll out on May 29, was delayed to June 19. While the extra three weeks of waiting might not seem like much, it means that players trying to avoid spoilers will need to keep dodging them for almost seven more weeks.

To avoid The Last of Us Part 2 spoilers, suggested actions include using Twitter’s built-in word-muting functions, removing YouTube’s suggested videos, using an extension to filter posts on Facebook, and blocking certain words on Reddit.

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How to access Lost Levels in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

Lev draws a bow in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered officially brings the popular Naughty Dog game to PlayStation 5 with a number of enhancements, including visual upgrades, a new roguelike mode, and a variety of fresh features that returning players may be interested in checking out. Among these new features are Lost Levels, which showcase early versions of areas that were ultimately cut from the game. There are three of these unique levels you can explore, including Jackson Dance, Seattle Sewers, and The Hunt — and they're all accessible right away, meaning you won't need to beat the main game to explore them. When you're ready to dive into The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's Lost Levels, we'll tell you where to find them below.
How to access Lost Levels

The Lost Levels can be selected by booting up the game and loading up the main menu. At the bottom of the list of options will be a section titled Making Of. Click this to reveal the Lost Levels on the following page. From here, you can choose between the following bonus levels:

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The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered: No Return tips and tricks for beginners

Tommy in The Last of Us 2 Remastered

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's campaign mostly just features visual upgrades over the PlayStation 4 original, but its new No Return mode provides players with a roguelike experience within the same world. This tense and challenging experience requires equal parts patience, strategy, and quick reflexes if you want to survive till the very end. In this guide, we'll share some things you'll want to keep in mind while tackling No Return.
Pick the right character for you
No Return features various characters from The Last of Us Part 2, each sporting unique initial loadouts, upgrade paths, and traits that can make a massive difference in your run. Picking one that suits the way you like to approach combat is extremely important, as certain characters will excel at some encounter types more than others.

For instance, Abby gets instant access to the Melee Upgrade Recipe and heals after killing an enemy with a melee attack, whereas Ellie gains extra supplements and gets immediate access to the Molotov Recipe for burning foes alive. Later, you can even unlock Yara, who will always bring along Lev as a sidekick to help you kill enemies in every encounter, though she sacrifices any other particularly unique extras as a result. As you can see, there's a character for every player, and a bit of trial and error should reveal which one works best for you.
Plan out your runs ahead of time

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The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered turns the original game into a cruel punch line

Lev draws a bow in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

It was a sunny spring day in 2020, amid the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I beat The Last of Us Part 2. As its long credits rolled, I paced around my small apartment living room, unpacking what had transpired. I adored the sequel’s first two acts and its multifaceted discussion of cyclical violence, but I found myself critical of its California-set finale. It seemed to backtrack on all the nuance of Ellie and Abby’s struggle by introducing a definitively evil faction that I wouldn’t feel bad about shooting with a machine gun. It was a discordant note at the end of a symphony, but I was determined to dig below my surface reading and try to understand what Naughty Dog was going for. It had earned that.

That’s when I was hit by the one moment of the game I’ll never forget. As I was deep in reflection, the credits wrapped up, and a final bit of text splashed on the screen. As a reward for finishing the brutal story, I had unlocked New Game+ mode, which would encourage me to replay it again with all my upgraded guns. The benefit of the doubt I’d given Naughty Dog went out the window; did the studio even understand its own game?