Why did The Last of Us Part II divide the gaming community so dramatically?

The answer

The Last of Us Part II, developed by Naughty Dog and released June 19, 2020, became the most polarizing game in industry history. It won over 300 Game of the Year awards - the most ever for a single title - including the prestigious Game Award, BAFTA, and Golden Joystick. Critics praised its narrative ambition and technical achievement. However, fans were deeply divided by its bold story decisions, particularly forcing players to control Abby, the character who kills the beloved protagonist Joel in the game's opening hours, for roughly half the game. The game's plot leaked online weeks before release, amplifying outrage. Its Metacritic user score was review-bombed to 5.7, compared to a critic score of 93. Director Neil Druckmann received death threats. The controversy sparked broader debates about storytelling expectations in interactive media.