In an interview with GameSpot, The Last of Us Part II's co-game director Anthony Newman says Ellie's companions will be more helpful this time around.

"I think, as you may have noticed in the first part of the demo interacting with Dina, our allies can do a lot of pretty exciting new stuff where they can get stealth kills independently," Newman says. "They have their own pretty nuanced melee system where they can interact with enemies in melee and also help you out and resue as they did in the first game. They're a little bit more flexible and nuanced this time around."

Naughty Dog has also discussed the game's story and its themes of revenge and cycle of violence. Additionally, we've gotten updates on the combat such as the inclusion of guard dogs, new types of infected, and an upgraded workbench.

"I can't get too much into the exact ratio of time you spend alone," Newman continues. "I'd say the game is definitely a blend of being by yourself as you were in the second part of the demo, and being with an ally. Allies are at the core of Naughty Dog games. We get a lot of great stuff out of them in terms of this back and forth as you were pointing out."

The Last of Us Part II launches on Febreuary 21, 2020, exclusively on the PlayStation 4. The game is available for preorder on Amazon now.