Fans of the post-apocalyptic series from Naughty Dog have all been awaiting news on the release date or at least a trailer for the HBO series version of The Last of Us. While we still don’t have either of these bits of information yet, a rather interesting bit of news has been revealed and it is a curious change. Typically, when a video game adaptation is made, the changes in them are for aesthetic, writing, or general limitations reasoning, but this change seems so minute that it makes me question, why?

Thanks to a Twitter page that follows up on all of the latest news regarding Naughty Dog and their provided picture proof, it seems that the whole story is going to take place 10 years earlier than it did in the game. The pandemic outbreak that started The Last of Us series takes place in 2013, but for this TV series, the outbreak will start in 2003. This means all of the action will go down in 2023 rather than in 2033, as it does in the game. There’s no telling what exactly this will do for the story, but there has to be some reason they went with this change. As a form of proof, here is a set-piece banner that is said to be used in the show with the 2003 date marked on it.

At least all of the other details are still confirmed and they have already been shooting scenes. In fact, there are some rumors that it could be released in 2022, but that has not been officially announced. Either way, soon we will see Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie begin their trek across America. Along the way we will also meet Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Merle Dandridge as Firefly leader Marlene, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, and have our hearts broken by Nico Parker as Sarah - Joel’s daughter.

What do you think the reason is behind this interesting bit of lore change?