Ever since Naughty Dog announced the development of The Last of Us: Part 2 some time ago, fans have been patiently waiting for the studio to reveal the game’s official release date. While numerous rumors and speculations surfaced online after the initial reveal, several sources claim that The Last of Us: Part 2 is set to release sometime this year, six years after the launch of the original title.

Several days ago, the satirical website The Onion, published some jokes in its “American Voices” column based on the premise that the highly anticipated follow up in The Last of Us series will be launching in 2019. The article then prompted a response from Naughty Dog via a tweet from community manager Arne Meyer. Posting on Twitter, Meyer said that while the studio appreciates the enthusiasm from the community, Naughty Dog will share details on The Last of Us Part 2 when it is ready.

It is worth remembering that the last time Naughty Dog shared anything major about the upcoming game was during E3 2018 with the launch of a new gameplay trailer for The Last of Us: Part 2. However, given that Sony revealed that it won’t be attending E3 2019, some fans of the series have been left wondering when Sony and Naughty Dog will reveal the game’s release date.

The Last of Us, which was released back in 2013, became a hit in the gaming community after it was able to present a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a disease that turns people into infected monsters. Both players and critics were impressed with the game’s focus on a rich narrative, seamless combat, and well-fleshed out characters.

The high quality of The Last of Us led many players to demand a sequel shortly after the game’s release. The original title was directed by Neil Druckmann, who is now Naughty Dog’s vice president, and Bruce Straley who left Naughty Dog after working with the studio for almost two decades.

Given the critical acclaim and the overwhelmingly positive reviews of the first Last of Us game, it is understandable that both Naughty Dog and Sony are taking its time to develop the perfect sequel to a widely successful title. Hopefully, we will get official confirmation of a release date for The Last of Us: Part 2 soon enough.

The Last of Us: Part 2 is currently in development for the PlayStation 4.