After a gripping (and controversial) trailer at E3 2018, Naughty Dog has been mostly silent on The Last of Us Part II. The studio declined to show off any new content at The Game Awards 2018 and we still don’t have a release date. On Friday, the team finally gave us some fresh insight into the upcoming title’s progress via Twitter.

Naughty Dog Vice President Neil Druckmann posted an image of two motion capture actors in full gear. This, by itself, doesn’t qualify as newsworthy. The studio hasn’t completed the game yet, so of course actors will continue to film. However, his comments set expectations sky-high and serve as a potential gut punch to fans of the first game.

Killer shoot this week, including one of the most complicated and heart wrenching scene we’ve ever worked on. Time for some vacation! Happy holidays… more to come next year. 📷: @Grosstastic pic.twitter.com/iQQ4WvIrqe

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) December 22, 2018

Considering how intense and draining The Last of Us was, that statement increased the stakes significantly. From its dramatic opening to its quietly devastating ending, The Last of Us shook players to their cores with its emotional storytelling. Naturally, the studio will attempt to surpass the success and depth of its previous game, but that’s a high bar to leap in this particular case. Of all the major studios, Naughty Dog seems most likely to pull off that nearly impossible feat.

The scene appears to depict a romantic bonding moment between Ellie and Dina, her love interest from the E3 trailer. However, Druckmann’s comments indicate a more complex scene than the image conveys. Naughty Dog previously stated that the initial guitar reveal scene would not be included in the game’s release. Perhaps the studio changed their minds, or maybe this is an entirely separate guitar scene meant to invoke the reveal. 

After the E3 trailer’s launch, many theorize that the game will center on Ellie’s quest for vengeance following Dina’s murder. Showing the pair bonding while Ellie plays guitar, interspersed with her viciously tearing her way through the enemies in the house, before finally singing that haunting tune and crying blood is about as emotional a moment as I can think of. Hopefully, we’ll see the finished product sometime early next year.

The Last of Us Part II does not have an official release date yet. Unless something unprecedented happens in the next week, rumors of a 2018 launch will be proven false. Just like its predecessor, the title will be a PlayStation exclusive. We will keep you updated on all things related to The Last of Us Part II as they become known.

What do you think the scene is about? Do you think it will top the first game’s most emotional moments? Give us your hot take in the comment section below! And for more gaming news and update, be sure to follow DFTG on Facebook and Twitter!