"I'm not there yet, I can't": THAT scene from The Last of Us 2 was going to appear much earlier than in the final version

Key information

The emotional conversation between Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us 2, which occurs near the game's conclusion, was originally intended to take place much earlier. This pivotal scene depicts the two characters attempting to reconcile their fractured relationship, ending with Ellie expressing a desire to try to forgive Joel.

Troy Baker, who portrays Joel, revealed that Naughty Dog's original plan for the sequence was altered. The change was necessary because actress Ashley Johnson found the scene too difficult to perform at the originally scheduled time.

Neil Druckmann decided to postpone the scene until the final moments of the game. This adjustment significantly impacted the player's perspective, as the scene highlights how Abby's actions robbed Ellie of the chance to fully reconcile with Joel.

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