Outbreak Day, the September 26th recurring “holiday” for Naughty Dog and fans of the series, is getting a new name. In light of the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, the developer announced on Twitter it will be known as The Last of Us Day going forward.
Here’s Naughty Dog’s full statement, which noted that this was about being respectful and teased that “exciting things” will be coming up soon.
For the last 7 years, September 26 has been our opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible passion of The Last of Us community. However, as we thought about the events of the last year and the challenges we all continue to face with COVID-19, we didn’t feel right continuing on under the “Outbreak Day” banner. While the name and date are rooted in the fiction of the game, September 26 means so much more than lore. It’s about showing our appreciation for our fans.
That’s why, this Saturday and moving forward, September 26 will be known as The Last of Us Day—a name that not only acknowledges the world around us, but also reflects the growth of the community as we welcome millions of new players with the release of The Last of Us Part II. We have a lot of exciting things planned and can’t wait to share them with you in just a few days.
The Last of Us is available on the PlayStation 3 and on the PlayStation 4 as The Last of Us Remastered. The Last of Us Part II is available on the PlayStation 4. The next The Last of Us Day will be September 26, 2020.
