This article explains what happened to the rest of the world in The Last Of Us and contains spoilers.
HBO’s The Last Of Us TV series has been years in the making but it is finally here. Despite astronomically high fan expectations and stellar reviews that seemed too good to be true, the first episode was resoundingly well received by viewers. Many are calling it the best video game adaption of all time.
After watching episode one myself, I’m happy to confirm it delivered.
The Last Of Us Part I and Part II are truly spectacular games. What’s more, they’re wrapped up in a cinematic style that’s been crying out for a TV or movie adaption.
The new HBO show takes the best bits from the games and transports them into the medium of TV without missing a beat. Plus, any changes that have been made only serve to make The Last Of Us work as a TV series. All in all, it is off to a flying start.
The Last Of Us tells the story of Joel and Ellie, two survivors of a pandemic caused by the contagious Cordyceps fungus.
The show picks up twenty years after the onset of the pandemic and the world has been devastated. Millions are dead or have been transformed into zombie-like creatures called “Infected”.
Joel and Ellie must embark on a journey across post-apocalyptic America. However, they must overcome the deadly Infected and merciless killers along the way.
One key question that many viewers will be asking concerns the rest of the world. We know what happened to the US and its citizens. But what about everyone else?
What happened to the rest of the world in The Last of Us? Here’s everything we know…
What Happened To The Rest Of The World In The Last of Us?
For most people, worrying about the effects of the Cordyceps brain infection (CBI) in America will be enough. But those hungry for more lore may be wondering what happened elsewhere on Earth.
The United States has been ravaged by the pandemic and its society and government have all but collapsed. Did everywhere else on the planet suffer the same fate?
This is what happened to the rest of the world in The Last of Us. The Cordyceps brain infection is a global pandemic in The Last of Us. That means it spread across the globe and impacted the entire human race.
Specific details about its exact effect on the world are scarce. However, there is some information found in The Last of Us video games which give us a few clues.
Perhaps most notable is a newspaper clipping which can be collected in the first game. Its headline reads: “U.S. Military Recalls Search Effort”.
The short clipping goes on to state that a “WHO report [estimates] that as much as 60% of the world’s population is either dead or infected by the CBI pandemic”.
The reference to the World Health Organization and its report means this estimate of the pandemic’s impact is likely accurate.
Naughty Dog Artwork
Aside from this newspaper clipping, our next best source of information about the rest of the world in The Last of Us comes in the form of official Naughty Dog artwork used to promote the first game.
Naughty Dog – the developer behind TLOU games – once created images depicting different locations around the world following the CBI outbreak. You can check them out here.
The key takeaway from these images is that the rest of the world was hit just as badly as the United States. Cities including London, Paris, Rome, Moscow and many others are in ruins.
Whether we ever get a glimpse of the rest of the world first-hand remains to be seen. Perhaps The Last of Us Part III or a later season of the TV show will address the state of other locations across the globe.
What do you think happened to the rest of the world in The Last of Us? Let us know in the comment section below and check out our other Film & TV articles…
