Naughty Dog's Director of Communications has called out a GameStop description that claims The Last of Us Part II will force players to kill dogs.GameStop said that "killing dogs is necessary" when playing the game and described enemies crying "in absolute horror when they discover their lifeless furry best friend." Arne Meyer reacted on Twitter, asking people to do their research before publishing accusations. He went on to distance The Last of Us Part II from the description, and said GameStop's synopsis has nothing to do with Naughty Dog.
Meyer didn't expand on how dogs will play into the main storyline as The Last of Us Part II tasks players with controlling an older version of the original game's protagonist, Ellie. It's entirely possible GameStop's description of being tracked by dogs and having to take them out is accurate; the idea of owners finding the dogs and then hunting down Ellie in a vengeful rage fits writer Neil Druckmann's promise the game will focus on the idea of "hate." However, Meyer disagrees with the description, indicating that it may be presenting the information without necessary context.
It's no secret that dogs are part of The Last of Us Part II after behind-the-scenes photos showed real-life animals being used for motion capture. Although dogs were in the background of 2013's The Last of Us, players couldn't interact with these four-legged friends. Alongside the dogs adding a complicated moral dilemma to the game, The Last of Us Part II has also confirmed each enemy will have a name, a move which makes them more than just an anonymous grunt waiting to be killed.
As evidenced by the addition of a dog companion in Fallout 4, dogs and animals, in general, have faced huge video game advancements in recent years. Horses are also back in The Last of Us Part II, as Ellie and her companions can be seen in released footage riding around in the wilderness much like gamers have done in Red Dead Redemption 2.
There's also a chance you can complete the main story without killing any dogs. Similar to The Last of Us, the sequel utilizes a stealth aspect which means players aren't forced to engage in a bloodbath in order to play the game. That said, it's also possible to hack through the title in a flurry of violence.
The Last of Us Part II arrives on PlayStation 4 June 19.