The Last of Us Gets Animated Background on PS5 as Naughty Dog Teases Announcements for TLOU Day 2026

Naughty Dog has released a free background on PlayStation 5 as it prepares to celebrate The Last of Us Day 2026. The studio took to social media to tease some of what it has planned for this year's festivities. PS5 owners can now head to their consoles to download a special The Last of Us-themed background for the PlayStation Welcome Hub landing page. This free option features both the younger and older versions of Ellie from both mainline games, requiring no download to enjoy.

In addition to the background reveal, Naughty Dog promised that the main celebration on Monday, September 28th, will bring even more reveals for the franchise. The team stated they would share a "partnership announcement, a very cool collaboration, digital surprises, and more." There will also be a No Return charity stream on Twitch.

Another major surprise announced was the news that The Last of Us Season 3 on HBO has picked up new cast members: John Goodman (playing Joey), Laura Bailey (who played Abby in Part 2, now playing Seraphite leader Elizabeth), and Ian Alexander. Fans are eagerly awaiting further announcements regarding the future of the franchise, including potential sequels.