Developer Naughty Dog celebrates Pride with stunning The Last of Us LGBT+ artwork
Ellie and Dina kiss in The Last of Us (Naughty Dog)
Naughty Dog celebrated Pride Month by sharing a stunning The Last of Us artwork featuring 5 characters that represent the LGBT+ community.
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic game that takes place twenty years after modern civilisation has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.
Naughty Dog, the brains behind the 2020 popular LGBT+ action game, also shared a lovely message with their fans along with the new artwork.
Honouring the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan that birthed the Pride movement, the studio’s artwork – which included Ellie and Dina, two characters who are involved in a romantic relationship – Naughty Dog tweeted:
“Whether in the physical world around us or the digital worlds that reflect reality, LGBTQIA+ individuals universally deserve intersectional representation, equal rights, and inclusion. Happy #PRIDE to all. Here’s to celebrating who you are and honoring those who paved the way”.
Whether in the physical world around us or the digital worlds that reflect reality, LGBTQIA+ individuals universally deserve intersectional representation, equal rights, and inclusion. Happy #PRIDE to all. Here's to celebrating who you are and honoring those who paved the way. pic.twitter.com/t4pboXmReH
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) June 1, 2021
The artwork including Lev, a trans character who in real-life is voiced by trans actor Ian Alexander. Another popular character to make an appearance is Riley, who made an appearance in The Last of Us: Left Behind, an expansion that explores Ellie’s teenage years, and Bill – whose sexuality was only ever speculated on and not really confirmed in the original game from 2013.
In short, the artwork and message made it clear that The Last of Us franchise is here to stay and fully in support of the LGBT+ community.
Last week, it was announced that video game actor Merle Dandridge is set to reprise her role as Marlene in HBO’s The Last of Us TV adaptation joining Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who are set to appear as Joel and Ellie, respectively.
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