The Last of Us is one of the most talked-about franchises in recent years, both praised and picked apart. The HBO series wrapped its second season on May 25, and while reception was mixed, one thing is clear: the show has driven fans back to the source material.
Despite the controversy surrounding creative changes, the series starring Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Kaitlyn Dever has reignited interest in the PlayStation titles from Naughty Dog.
The Last of Us Games Soar Following the HBO Finale
A post shared on the official The Last of Us subreddit pointed out that both The Last of Us Part I and Part II Remastered surged in popularity following the season’s conclusion.
According to the sales chart, The Last of Us Part II Remastered rose to the second spot among the best-selling PS5 items in the U.S. store—outranked only by the PlayStation 5 Pro console itself. The first entry sits closely behind, with the Deluxe Edition of the newly released Elden Ring: Nightreign as the only title separating the two.
Other regions reflected similar spikes. In the UK and Italy, sales increased noticeably, and across Latin America the trend was just as strong.
Viewership Dips, Debate Grows
This kind of boost isn’t new for The Last of Us. Back in 2023, the release of Season 1 had a similar effect on game sales, showing how powerful adaptations can be in re-energizing old titles.
With Season 3 officially greenlit, producers are expected to dive deeper into Abby’s storyline. Series co-creator Craig Mazin also hinted that a fourth season may be needed to fully adapt the arc.
But Season 2 had a more uneven reception. Narrative shifts frustrated long-time fans, and accusations of “woke” storytelling dominated online discussion. The finale, in particular, drew strong reactions on social media—and the discontent showed up in the numbers too.
HBO reported a sharp drop in viewership for Episode 7—significantly lower than both the Season 2 premiere and the Season 1 finale. Still, the network remains hopeful that more viewers will catch up in the coming weeks.