The Last of Us Part 2 tells an unforgettable and occasionally gut-wrenching story of revenge, trauma, and the cycle of violence. Ellie finds herself on the hunt for Washington Liberation Front members after they cause great harm to someone she loves. Her journey is a bloody one that sees Ellie making many sacrifices as she stubbornly hunts down each person she believes has wronged her.

There were a lot of ideas that Naughty Dog played with during the development of The Last of Us Part 2. This includes a plan to design an open world with hub areas, though this idea was abandoned. This doesn’t mean it was a bad idea, as it is something the next The Last of Us game could absolutely pursue.

The Hubs of the Original The Last of Us Part 2

In an interview with IGN, Halley Gross and Neil Druckmann discussed the intricacies of The Last of Us Part 2 and how it came to be. Naughty Dog had a lot of ideas for the sequel, as they wanted it to be bigger and better than the last in every way. They revealed that it was originally imagined as an open-world game, though it was Gross who began questioning whether it was a wise choice for the story they were trying to tell. Consequently, the team opted for a more “open linear” style which features a linear structure with some semi-open-world areas, not unlike Uncharted 4.

The game would feature hub areas, including one where Abby is invited into Jackson, where she blends in and completes missions until she eventually reveals who she really is. There would also be a hub area for Ellie and Dina where they would decide which Washington Liberation Front member they would go after next. Ultimately, these ideas were scrapped, though players do still spend a good bit of time in Jackson and even more in the Pinnacle Theater, where they can take a break from the action and violence that colors the rest of the game.

How The Last of Us Part 3 Could Incorporate Hub Areas

Though hub areas weren’t implemented in TLOU 2, there’s no telling what Naughty Dog will do with the third entry in the series. If the trend continues, the third game will be bigger and have a wider scope than its predecessor. This may make it harder than ever to have a linear structure, necessitating hub areas for players to regain their bearings before jumping back into the series’ violent world.

Jackson would serve as a perfect hub area for Ellie should she decide to return to the safe town that was her home for so long. From here, she could plot her next moves. Alternatively, if the next game decides to focus on Abby and her Seraphite companion instead, they could find a hub area in Santa Barbara as they continue their search for the Fireflies.

The Open Linear Ares in The Last of Us Part 2 May Have Given a Taste of What’s to Come

During Ellie and Dina’s first day in Seattle, players get an idea of what an open-world The Last of Us would feel like thanks to a particularly large “open linear” area. Ellie is equipped with a map, and she and Dina get to explore different buildings, including a bank, a synagogue, a courthouse, and a music shop. Players can explore the buildings in whatever order they please, giving them a lot of freedom regarding their exploration paths.

The Last of Us Part 2 tells one of the darkest yet most captivating stories in gaming, and its impact will be felt for years to come. Its sequel has a high bar to surpass if it hopes to step out of the shadow of its predecessor, though perhaps this could be done through the inclusion of an open world with hub areas.