Despite a number of setbacks, it’s clear that The Last of Us Part II will be a huge financial success when it releases in just a few weeks. The first game in the series was a huge money maker for Sony and all indications are showing that the sequel might be even more of a powerhouse.
The game has seen impressive pre-order numbers across the globe, even breaking the record for most pre-orders ever made for a PlayStation game in Brazil. That title was once held by 2018’s God of War, but it looks as though Kratos will have to take a backseat to Joel and Ellie, at least when it comes to the Brazilian market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXl9GI1p_Os
Considering the massive size of Brazil, this could be indicative of what we’re going to be seeing worldwide when The Last of Us Part 2 releases.
In fact, the game’s special edition versions have apparently sold out entirely, which is another huge sign of things to come for both Sony and developer Naughty Dog Studios.
Over in Europe, The Last of Us Part II has exceeded the pre-order numbers for Marvel’s Spider-Man, which was a huge blockbuster PlayStation exclusive. Spider-Man has shipped more than 13 million copies since its release in 2018, and The Last of Us Part 2 looks like it might be able to actually exceed that impressive figure.
This is even more impressive when you consider the rocky road The Last of Us Part II has experienced over the last several months. The game saw several delays, first due to production lag and then due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, gamers were expecting to see The Last of Us Part II on shelves in February, just a little more than a month before the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which is another powerhouse PlayStation exclusive for 2020.
Then there were rumors of crunch culture expectations over at Naughty Dog, which left a bad taste in many gamers’ mouths. Crunch culture speaks to a business model wherein developers are expected to put in long hours with little rest in order to meet strict deadlines. Naughty Dog has denounced and denied these allegations repeatedly.
Then, the game fell victim to a hacking group, which leaked major story elements online. These spoilers, offered with no context to the game’s actual story, have incensed some longtime fans of the franchise who have actually called for a boycott of the title.
But those calls have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
The Last of Us Part II will release exclusively on the PlayStation 4 console on June 19.
