PS5 Adds Animated The Last of Us Background as Naughty Dog Teases TLOU Day 2026 Announcements

Background: Why September 26 Anchors The Last of Us Day 2026

Naughty Dog, the studio behind Sony's exclusive post-apocalyptic video game franchise, chose September 26 as the date it calls its Cordyceps-breakout holiday. In 2026, the studio is preparing to celebrate The Last of Us Day 2026, but it will not share any The Last of Us announcements with fans until Monday, September 28, 2026. That creates a two-step timeline: September 26 is the nominal holiday and the first fan-facing surprise, while September 28 is the larger reveal day.

Development: September 26, 2026 - The Free PlayStation 5 Background

On September 26, 2026, Naughty Dog released a free The Last of Us-themed background on PlayStation 5 for the PlayStation Welcome Hub landing page. The studio's @Naughty_Dog post said: "We'll be celebrating #TLOUDay on Monday," and added: "For the first time ever, a The Last of Us-themed background is being added to the PlayStation Welcome Hub." The post tells players to "Log in to your PlayStation account and download it." The background is a free option featuring both the younger and older versions of Ellie from both mainline games. The coverage also notes the option can be enjoyed without a separate download.

The background is animated. It is far from the kind of dynamic themes or wallpapers that fans have begged Sony to bring back, but it adds flavor for fans still hoping to see the series get a proper return in games. For readers, the immediate takeaway is simple: if you want to update your PS5 home screen for The Last of Us Day 2026, go to the Welcome Hub, select the Change Background button in the top corner of the screen, then choose The Last of Us background in the Games tab.

Latest Progress: September 28, 2026 - Reveals, Charity Stream, and HBO Season 3 Casting

In a separate post, Naughty Dog promised that September 28 will bring even more reveals for the franchise. The team said it will share a "partnership announcement, a very cool collaboration, digital surprises, and more." There will also be a No Return charity stream on Twitch. No Return is a mode in The Last of Us Part 2, so the stream gives players a reason to watch the event beyond the usual holiday posts.

The tease does not sound like a discussion of The Last of Us Part 3, and Sony has yet to confirm a The Last of Us Part 3. That means the September 28 event should be read as a franchise-wide celebration with partnerships, collaborations, digital surprises, and charity gaming, rather than a confirmed new mainline game.

Another surprise announced on September 26, 2026 was that The Last of Us Season 3 on HBO has picked up new and familiar faces. Spoiler warning: the following casting notes identify characters from The Last of Us Part 2 and its Seraphite storyline. John Goodman, a series newcomer and award-winning actor, will play a new character named Joey. Laura Bailey, who played Abby in The Last of Us Part 2 and a nurse in The Last of Us Season 1, will play a Seraphite leader named Elizabeth. Ian Alexander will play a currently unnamed character after first appearing as Lev in the second game.

Current Stage: A Pre-Announcement Window Before September 28

As of September 26, 2026, The Last of Us Day 2026 is in a pre-announcement stage. The free PlayStation 5 background is already live, giving fans a small, immediate way to mark the date. The larger set of The Last of Us announcements is still scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026. For PS5 owners, the next action is to check the Welcome Hub. For fans waiting for game news, the key question is whether the promised partnership announcement, collaboration, digital surprises, and No Return charity stream will point to new content. For HBO viewers, the Season 3 casting with John Goodman, Laura Bailey, and Ian Alexander adds a separate television thread that can be followed even while the game-side reveals remain pending.