Naughty Dog has launched a free background on PlayStation 5 as it prepares to have fun The Last of Us Day 2026.
The studio behind Sony’s unique post-apocalyptic online game franchise took to social media to tease some of what it has deliberate for this 12 months’s festivities. Whereas September 26 is technically the day it is chosen to serve as its Cordyceps-breakout vacation, Naughty Dog will not share any The Last of Us bulletins with followers till Monday the twenty eighth, however that does not imply there’s nothing to fawn over at present.
PS5 homeowners can now head to their consoles to obtain a particular The Last of Us-themed background for PlayStation’s Welcome Hub touchdown web page. It is a free possibility that includes each the youthful and older variations of Ellie from each mainline video games, with no obtain required to get pleasure from it. Though it’s miles from the type of dynamic themes or wallpapers followers have begged Sony to deliver again, the animated background does add some taste for followers nonetheless hoping to see the sequence get a correct return in video games.
We’ll be celebrating #TLOUDay on Monday, however we do have a enjoyable shock for you at present. 🧡🩵
For the primary time ever, a The Last of Us-themed background is being added to the PlayStation Welcome Hub. Log in to your PlayStation account and obtain it to see how our staff has… pic.twitter.com/aK6F85FM2I
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) September 26, 2026
Those that need to boost their PS5 backgrounds want solely to navigate to the Welcome Hub, choose the Change Background button within the prime nook of the display screen, after which choose The Last of Us background within the Video games tab. It is nothing a lot, however we’ll solely have to attend a number of extra days to listen to extra about The Last of Us Day celebration.
In a separate post, Naughty Dog promised September 28 will deliver much more reveals for the franchise. Whereas it does not sound like one thing like The Last of Us Half 3 will likely be mentioned, the staff did promise to share a “partnership announcement, a really cool collaboration, digital surprises, and extra.” There may even be a No Return charity stream on Twitch.
One other shock introduced at present was the information that The Last of Us Season 3 on HBO has picked up some new and acquainted faces: John Goodman, Laura Bailey, and Ian Alexander. Goodman, a sequence newcomer and award-winning actor, will play a brand new character named Joey. Bailey, who performed Abby in The Last of Us Half 2 and a nurse in The Last of Us Season 1, will play a Seraphite chief named Elizabeth, whereas Alexander will play a presently unnamed character after first showing as Lev within the second sport.
We’ll have to attend to see what Naughty Dog has deliberate for The Last of Us Day 2026. Whereas Sony has but to substantiate a The Last of Us Half 3 as work on its Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet continues, followers are hoping an announcement will arrive sooner slightly than later. One remark from creator Neil Druckmann sparked theories a few third chapter in Ellie’s story in March of this 12 months.
Michael Cripe
Freelance Author
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Remember to give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).