As the studio has announced a new fan event, this one is all about selecting the prettiest, the saddest, or the simply awe-inspiring frames from The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 3. The new #TLOUPhotoMode challenge has now been announced by the studio to enlist players to submit their best in-game screen captures that would potentially make it on the game’s official social media pages. You now have until April 30 to get in on the action.
So what’s this challenge about? It’s simple: if you’ve been obsessively pausing, zooming, and changing lighting in Photo Mode during your playthrough of The Last of Us Part II (specifically Episode 3 of Season 2, because apparently it is the episode), then congratulations: this is the time to show off those skills you’ve worked so hard to polish. The submission link is up; put up your best shots before let’s say, the deadline comes knocking at your door, and you’re in. No word on prizes yet, but come on—getting your name all over Naughty Dog’s socials is basically the gaming equivalent of a blue checkmark.
Now, if you’re sitting there thinking, “Wait, what even is Photo Mode?”—first of all, where have you been? Photo Mode is basically a built-in screenshot editor that lets you freeze the game, adjust angles, add filters, and tweak depth of field to make your in-game moments look like they belong in a dang art gallery. And not to be using it in a game so visually alluring as The Last of Us Part II is basically a crime.
Naughty Dog does not stop there, for the studio is now set to go all-out for fan engagement courtesy of the HBO series, but previously had organized their own Photo Mode contests that have covered everything from hauntingly beautiful landscapes to those near-clutch character moments that hit harder than Joel’s heavily popularized golf club scene. If the third episode of this Season was… let’s just say emotionally loaded, then there is truly no shortage of materials to work off.
But then again, timing is everything. The Last of Us Part II Photo Mode certainly has a long-standing admiration by fans, but this challenge also shows subtle signs of working in under-arms hype train towards a possible PS5 remaster, or quite possibly even a director’s cut. Purely coincidental, or perhaps something brewing by Naughty Dog on a much larger scale? Regardless, if that killer screenshot is tucked away, bring it out now!
And this is a pretty nice drawing. Even if you are not gaining anything for it, it’s nice to be social with that art. The Last of Us is sure one of the biggest names in in-game photography, and scrolling through #TLOUPhotoMode is basically free inspiration. With HBO still recently in everyone’s memory, now is truly the time to be flaunting Joel and Ellie’s beautifully messed-up world.
Actually, grab your DualSense, jump into Photo Mode, and start firing off those picture-perfect shots. Remember, April 30 is actually pretty darn close. If you miss it? Well, best of luck next time. Maybe. Probably. Unless Naughty Dog decides to spring a surprise update and we all go batty again.
