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Naughty Dog added a free The Last of Us animated background to the PlayStation Welcome Hub on PS5 for The Last of Us Day 2026. The artwork animates smoke around Joel and embers near Abby. The event also brought four regional PlayStation avatar codes, a charity stream, giveaways and a Youtooz collectible. Separately, studio head Neil Druckmann confirmed two new projects are in very early development, but did not name them or give release dates.
Where to find the animated background on PS5
Naughty Dog says the first The Last of Us-themed background has been added to the PlayStation Welcome Hub. Its post describes animated details in the key art: smoke around Joel and embers at Abby’s feet. The announcement identifies it as a Welcome Hub background; it does not say that a standalone wallpaper download or a console-wide theme is available. Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Day 2026 announcement calls the addition a first for the hub.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Last of Us Part 1 - For PlayStation 5 | $42.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The background was presented as a free digital event item, and Naughty Dog did not state that owning or buying a game is required. The announcement does not provide a separate download link or a more specific setup path.
What else Naughty Dog announced for The Last of Us Day
Four PlayStation avatars
Naughty Dog released four new PlayStation avatars and provided redemption codes grouped by account region: Americas, Europe/Australia, Japan, Korea and Asia. Because the codes are region-specific, check the region listed in the official announcement against your PlayStation account before redeeming one.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
Community events and collectible
The same post highlights a charity stream, fan giveaways and a Youtooz collaboration for a The Last of Us Day 2026 collectible. It does not establish whether the collectible is currently in stock.
What Druckmann confirmed about future projects
In a post-event message, Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann said the studio has “a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages.” He added that both will expand The Last of Us canon beyond Part I and Part II. Druckmann’s September 28, 2026 note does not identify either project, its platform, or a release window.
Rank #2
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
That is confirmation of two projects and their intended place in the franchise canon—not confirmation of a specific sequel, remake, or launch date. The studio has not disclosed enough in that statement to determine what form either project will take.
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No game purchase is stated as a requirement for the Welcome Hub background. If you want the story context, Sony describes The Last of Us Part I as a PS5 remake of the first game released in 2022, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered as a PS5 remaster of its sequel released in 2024. These are optional ways to experience the games, not prerequisites for the background. Sony’s Corporate Report 2025 also gives the franchise’s cumulative sales as more than 37 million copies; that is Sony’s report-year figure, not a 2026 sales update.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
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