'The Last of Us 2' release date, news: Sequel to be announced in December?

The official key art for "The Last of Us"Naughty Dog

"The Last of Us" is often regarded as one of the best video games in recent years, but developer Naughty Dog has been notably silent regarding the possibility of a sequel. However, an industry insider now reveals that "The Last of Us 2" may indeed be in development and could be showcased as early as this December.

According to insider Shinobi602 (via NeoGAF), fans of the game won't need to wait for E3 2017 as Sony and Naughty Dog may unveil the game during the PSX 2016 event. This event, while not as big as E3, is often used as a platform for Playstation-exclusive projects, and "The Last of Us 2" would fit the occasion perfectly.

However, Screen Rant points out that if "The Last of Us 2" will be unveiled during PSX, then the company might have to push aside their current plans for the upcoming "Uncharted 4" DLC. Both games are highly praised, and it is unlikely that Naughty Dog would let these two titles compete with each other for attention.

The report continues to point out that Naughty Dog and Sony may prioritize announcing "The Last of Us 2" over the "Uncharted 4" DLC due to the recent revelation that the film adaptation of "The Last of Us" is still in development hell. According to Sam Raimi, who is attached as a producer, the movie is at a standstill due to creative differences between Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann and Sony executives.

It is likely that the decision to focus on "The Last of Us 2" was made to appease fans disappointment with the lack of movement for the film.

Playstation Universe does state that while Naughty Dog has yet to confirm if they are unveiling "The Last of Us 2," the insider, Shinobi602, does have a solid track record of leaking accurate information. This would indicate that the upcoming announcement may be real, although fans should still take the information with a grain of salt.