This much has been confirmed by The Last of Us: Part 2’s director, Neil Druckmann, during a discussion between him and Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price for The AIAS Game Maker’s Notebook podcast. As found in the video below, Druckmann explains that he and the team at Naughty Dog designed the footage for promotional purposes, saying, “The first trailer we showed kind of exists purely as an announcement. It’s not a scene that takes place in the game.”
As the conversation between Druckmann and Price progressed, the two went on to discuss the violent nature on display in The Last of Us: Part 2’s second trailer, which debuted during Paris Games Week 2017. The footage sparked controversy among some critics who claimed its overall tone and levels of gore weren’t suitable for what is essentially an advertisement. Interestingly enough, Naughty Dog’s Creative Director understood the validity and merit of such criticism, but seemed to think it was somewhat unfair due to the trailer only representing a “sliver of the game.”
Taking all of this into account, while The Last of Us: Part 2’s lack of content from the reveal trailer might make some fans feel uneasy about the title’s future, it’s important to note that it’s not uncommon for such assets to be released as standalone materials from the actual game. At any rate, Druckmann’s revelation that the trailer won’t be in the game will definitely make some folks want to refine and reexamine all of those fan theories about Joel’s fate.
The Last of Us: Part 2 is currently in production for PlayStation 4.
Source: Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences – YouTube
