Ellie in The Last of Us Part II | Photo: YouTube/PlayStation Europe
Video game developers Naughty Dog revealed a new gameplay trailer for The Last of Us Part II at E3. The video shows one of the main characters of the game, Ellie, kissing another girl.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is a convention showcasting new and upcoming video game projects.
The Last of Us was released in 2013 and became one of PlayStation’s highest selling games. It follows two characters, Joel and Ellie, a teenage girl, as they try to survive a post-apocalyptic world.
The upcoming sequel game takes place five years after the events of the first game. Joel and Ellie are once again the central characters.
In the gameplay trailer below, Ellie is at a dance when she shares a kiss with Dina.
[embedded content]
Many critics and fans praised the animation in the trailer, especially the kiss. However, others also criticized it for its violence.
‘Ellie was born gay’
Co-writer Halley Gross spoke about Ellie’s sexual identity at the convention, simply saying: ‘Ellie is gay.’
She continued, explaining where Ellie is in this sequel.
‘Ellie was born gay. This is just who she is. And to explore who she is as a teenager and as an adult, it wouldn’t be honoring her character to hide some facet of herself. We want to engage with her as a full character. She’s also a great shot, and a great fighter. But she’s also nineteen. Nineteen’s a fun age.’
In this sequel, Gross and fellow writer Neil Druckmann said they wanted to ‘honor’ Ellie, as well as show the effects of violence and trauma in this world.
Many fans are thrilled about Ellie’s journey, but also point out it’s not a surprise.
Lol @ everyone only just finding out that Ellie is a lesbian. Welcome to TLOU friends, have you heard the good word of The Last of Us: Left Behind? #PlayStationE3
— Alanah Pearce @ E3 (@Charalanahzard) June 12, 2018
Seeing some complain about why they’re putting LGBT “garbage” into #TLOU2. Uh, Ellie is, and always was, gay. That was established years ago in The Last of Us: Left Behind. Where have you been? pic.twitter.com/IUWUlO5AdS
— InvaderC8 (@Invade8) June 12, 2018
Holy crap guys. Ellie was gay in the Last of Us 1. ELLIE WAS GAY IN THE LAST OF US 1. This is not something they added in for the Last of Us 2. ELLIE WAS HELLA GAY IN THE LAST OF US 1. GET OVER IT, SHE’S A PRECIOUS ANGEL.
— Jinzee (@PB_Jinzee) June 12, 2018
The Last Of Us: Left Behind was an expansion pack of the original game. It follows Ellie in the months before she met Joel and explores her relationship with Riley. The two attended boarding school together and also shared a kiss in that game.
to all the people that are mad about Ellie’s kiss in the last of us 2 trailer pic.twitter.com/GtDamhEClY
— Doodle💖💛💙 (@MonsterMarbles) June 12, 2018
The Last of Us Part II comes out in January 2019.
