The Last of Us Part 2 started as an 'open world inspired by Bloodborne' according to co-director

The Last of Us 2 release date, trailers, news and rumors
(Image credit: Naughty Dog)

The Last of Us Part 2 could've taken an entirely different approach to the first game, according to co-director Anthony Newman. In the behind-the-scenes documentary, Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2, Newman confirmed that the team wanted the second part to be "as different as humanly possible from the first game."

When development started, Newman stated that the team wanted to be "very ambitious in changing the game entirely." Because of this, an open-world game inspired by Bloodborne started to come to fruition with a heavy emphasis on melee combat rather than what we know Part 2 to offer. 

However, according to lead game designer Emilia Schatz: "It wasn't just about melee combat, we were also looking at layout structure.

"Bloodborne had a very open space that kept getting bigger and bigger as you explored. I really like that feeling that you get of mastery over the world. It starts to become almost a character in the game itself. And so, that was also something we were looking at."

The idea of an adventure getting bigger the more you explore was incredibly appealing to the team, as expressed by Newman, so it set the basis for the first four to five months of development. Plus, this theme perfectly suits the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us Part 2.

But, even though this idea didn't leave production, there's still a chance that the next installment to the series could follow in the footsteps of a game like Bloodborne. As mentioned in the same documentary, Neil Druckmann, the co-president of Naughty Dog, stated that he has a "concept" ready for a final chapter of the series, but didn't share any further details. 

We've got a guide to the best single-player games if you're looking for more games to sink your teeth into. However, if you want something specifically post-apocalyptic, our guide to the best zombie games is sure to satisfy too. 

Kara Phillips
Evergreen Writer

Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she's spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you'll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.

Read more
the last of us 2 gate codes
The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann speaks on the possibility of The Last of Us Part 3: 'I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more'
The Last of Us 2 Multiplayer SGF 2022
The Last of Us Online 'was great', says former PlayStation boss, but Naughty Dog canceled it because otherwise it wouldn't have been able to make Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
The main character from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet performing a jump attack on a robot enemy.
Neil Druckmann reveals new details about Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, says it's 'a game about faith and religion' and wants players to be 'lost' and 'confused'
Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us
'Two more seasons after this and we’re done’: HBO says The Last of Us could be on track for four seasons on Max
A collage of Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us season 2
The Last of Us season 2: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis, and more on the popular HBO show's return
A screenshot from the Until Dawn PS5 and PC trailer.
Until Dawn's movie adaptation won't follow the same story — here's why I think that's a good thing
Latest in Gaming
Metroid Prime 4
I reckon the Nintendo Switch 2 could launch with Metroid Prime 4 – here’s why
Don't miss discounts on EA College Football 25.
I can't believe how cheap EA Sports College Football 25 is at Best Buy right now
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 expected to have AI upscaling and I can't wait to finally play Tears of the Kingdom with upgraded graphics
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #646)
Seagate's new Genshin Impact Limited Edition SSD on a desk.
I didn't know an SSD could be cute until I saw Seagate's new Genshin Impact limited edition
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic remake developer Saber Interactive states all its projects are 'still in development'
Latest in News
Metroid Prime 4
I reckon the Nintendo Switch 2 could launch with Metroid Prime 4 – here’s why
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
New rumors predict a foldable iPhone will launch next year – and cost almost twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Pebble smartwatch countdown
Pebble confirms its smartwatch announcement is just hours away
Logo of YouTube Shorts
Is YouTube auto-playing Shorts when you open the app? Well, you’re not alone - here’s how to fix it
Google DeepMind panel discussion
“More sovereignty and protection” - Google goes all-in on UK AI with data residency, upskilling projects, and startup investments
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 expected to have AI upscaling and I can't wait to finally play Tears of the Kingdom with upgraded graphics