The Last of Us is full of iconic moments, though one of the most memorable of all is the giraffe sequence. Recently, Bend Studio paid tribute to this scene via a piece of art, with the post celebrating the launch of The Last of Us Part 1.
For those unfamiliar with Bend Studio’s work, the developer has delivered a handful of strong titles. Syphon Filter is one of those games, with the studio also delivering Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PS Vita. Most recently, it released Days Gone for the PlayStation 4, an interesting open world game with a loyal following. While Bend is hard at work on its next game, which will not be a sequel to Days Gone, the developer has still shared some art starring Deacon St. John.
The art in question, which was created by Bend Studio’s Senior Concept Artist Katie Scott, did not throw Deacon into his own Freaker-infested world. Instead, he was thrown into another post-apocalyptic universe full of zombie-like foes, as he is pictured standing near Joel and Ellie. With The Last of Us Part 1 only just releasing, Bend Studio’s art is perfectly timed, serving as a celebration of the award-winning title’s PlayStation 5 remake.
The scene Deacon is inserted into is one of the most iconic moments from the entire franchise, as he finds himself in the moment where Joel and Ellie spot a giraffe. With fans making art of The Last of Us’ giraffe scene for years, this piece is the latest of many renditions, though Deacon’s role instantly makes the piece stand out. As Ellie pets the giraffe just like she does in Naughty Dog’s modern classic, Joel can be seen looking off to his side. Deacon comforts him, with the biker placing his hand on Joel’s back,
Given the similarities between Days Gone’s world and the universe The Last of Us is set in, it makes sense that Deacon would have all the skill needed to survive fights against Clickers and Bloaters. With his trusty motorcycle, numerous weapons, and experience surviving against a similar threat, he would be a useful ally for Joel. Considering how both have suffered some devastating losses, they would likely have some common ground that could lead to a friendship sparking. Thinking about the conversation Deacon and Joel would have in this moment is interesting, making the piece even more special beyond its obvious beauty.
For those that enjoy this kind of crossover art, similar celebratory posts have been seen when other PlayStation exclusives have released, all of which can easily be found online. With God of War Ragnarok’s launch inching closer, similar PlayStation Studios art will likely appear in a few months’ time.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on PS5. A PC version is currently in development.
