Pedro Pascal in “The Last of Us” Season 2.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
The first episode of The Last of Us Season 2 is now streaming as of April 13. Wondering when new episodes will be available on HBO and Max? Read on for the full release schedule so you don’t miss a single episode of the apocalyptic thriller.
Based on the popular video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog for PlayStation, The Last of Us is set 20 years into a pandemic caused by a mind-controlling parasitic fungus that turns its hosts into zombie-like creatures. Joel (Pedro Pascal) must smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the country to a hospital because she’s immune to the infection; but with danger at every turn, their biggest challenge is staying alive.
The second installment picks up five years after the events of Season 1 and takes inspiration from The Last of Us Part II video game, released in 2020. “Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind,” the logline for Season 2 reads.
ForbesThe Best New TV Shows Streaming In April 2025 On Netflix, Max, And MoreBy Monica MercuriIn Season 2, Pascal and Ramsey are joined by Gabriel Luna as Tommy and Rutina Wesley as Maria. New cast members include Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara will also guest star.
Keep scrolling to discover when the next episode of The Last of Us Season 2 airs, the full release schedule, and the real reason behind this season’s shorter episode count.
When Do New Episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 Come Out?
Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey in “The Last of Us” Season 2.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.
The next episode, Season 2, Episode 2, is scheduled to be released on Sunday, April 20.
How Many Episodes Are In The Last of Us Season 2?
Ezra Agbonkhese and Pedro Pascal in “The Last of Us” Season 2.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
The Last of Us Season 2 will have a total of seven episodes, which is two fewer than the nine-episode first season. According to co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the shorter episode count is intentional. Because Part II of the video game has so much story to cover, they plan to tell it across multiple seasons.
“We just want to put people’s minds at ease that the idea that this season coming up is a little bit shorter than the first one is not because we’re taking less time to tell the stories, it’s because we want to take more time,” Mazin told Deadline. “The story that we’re telling is much bigger than the story of Season 1, there’s just a lot more going on, it’s a lot harder to produce but we want every episode to feel like its own blockbuster to be honest with you.”
Mazin added that the natural breakpoint in Season 2 “felt like is came after seven episodes.” He and Druckmann see the series spanning at least three seasons, with the possibility of a fourth. HBO officially renewed The Last of Us for a third season just days before the Season 2 premiere.
“We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons [2 and 3] because we’re taking our time and go down interesting pathways which we did a little bit in Season 1 too,” Mazin continued. “We feel like it’s almost assuredly going to be the case that — as long as people keep watching and we can keep making more television — Season 3 will be significantly larger. And indeed, the story may require Season 4.”
What Is The Last of Us Season 2 Release Schedule?
Gabriela Luna in “The Last of Us” Season 2.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Following the Season 2 premiere on April 13, new episodes of The Last of Us will drop every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and stream on Max, leading up to the season finale on May 25. Check out the full release schedule below (episode titles for the remaining weeks have not yet been announced).
- Episode 1, “Future Days”: Aired on April 13
- Episode 2, “TBA”: Airing on April 20
- Episode 3, “TBA”: Airing on April 27
- Episode 4, “TBA”: Airing on May 4
- Episode 5, “TBA”: Airing on May 11
- Episode 6, “TBA”: Airing on May 18
- Episode 7, “TBA”: Airing on May 25
ForbesWhat Time Does ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 2 Come Out? Here’s How To WatchBy Monica MercuriHow To Watch The Last of Us Season 2
Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey in “The Last of Us” Season 2.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
The Last of Us airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. You can watch the series by subscribing to HBO through your cable or satellite TV provider.
The series is also available to stream on Max, which offers three subscription tiers: the ad-supported plan for $9.99/month, the ad-free plan for $16.99/month, and the ultimate ad-free plan for $20.99/month. You can also add Max as an add-on through live TV streaming services like DirecTV or YouTube TV (which have special offers available).
Although Max doesn’t currently offer a free trial, you may still be able to watch episodes for free through select partner promotions. Amazon Prime occasionally offers a seven-day free trial for its Max add-on, and DoorDash is running a promotion that gives DashPass members a free one-year subscription to Max.
Watch the official trailer for The Last of Us Season 2 below.
