The Last Of Us Free Download Officially Available Now Without PlayStation Plus

Published Sep 28, 2026, 5:45 AM EDT

Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there.

Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers.

Today marks The Last of Us Day, a day dedicated to celebrating what was previously known as Outbreak Day, and why I have no idea why we would want to celebrate a fictional day that caused a zombie-like apocalypse, it does give fans the opportunity to enjoy some exciting new content, drops, and announcements.

With Naughty Dog using this date to make announcements relating to the franchise, this year is no exception, and whilst it does not come alongside an official confirmation of The Last of Us Part III (not yet at least), fans can expect a free PlayStation 5 download and better yet, you do not need a PlayStation Plus subscription to be able to redeem it.

Whilst the day is still young and Naughty Dog could surprise us all with exciting announcements over the next few hours, it has already revealed a free digital download for us to nab in order to celebrate the day.

The download in question is a free, animated wallpaper for PlayStation 5 users which will be able to be added to their Welcome Hub. As an official Twitter/X post by Naughty Dog reads, “For the first time ever, a The Last of Us-themed background is being added to the PlayStation Welcome Hub. Log in to your PlayStation account and download it to see how our team has brought dynamic elements to this iconic key art."

The wallpaper in question features key art from both The Last of Us Part 1 and The Last of Us Part 2 in a mirror image, showcasing Ellie and Joel on the left and Ellie and Abby on the right. Featuring stunning contrast, animated birds and lightning, and opposing colors, both pieces of key art encapsulate the mood of each game, and, as mentioned, it is now free to download and show off on your PS5 Welcome Hub now.

Not only that, but Naughty Dog also used this opportunity to reveal that more information regarding The Last of Us franchise would be revealed later today.

“We can't wait to celebrate with you, but we'll be saving our #TLOUDay festivities for Monday, September 28. Expect a partnership announcement, a very cool collaboration, digital surprises, and more. Don't forget to tune in to our No Return charity stream on Twitch,” the studio shared in a separate post.

If we had to guess, there will be another merchandise drop, some more free downloads and a collaboration of some sort. From this post alone, it is unlikely that the highly-anticipated The Last of Us Part III will finally be confirmed, but we can always remain hopeful, especially as the third and final season of HBO's The Last of Us is ramping up when it comes to big casting announcements. As such, revealing the third installment when the hype is at its biggest may be what fans need.

For now, however, we can enjoy our brand-new digital download and look forward to Naughty Dog's further announcements throughout the day, hoping that The Last of Us franchise is far from over.

Systems