HBO has celebrated the continued success of *The Last of Us* Season 2, noting a significant "influx" of viewers that has elevated the series’ global audience to more than 90 million since the end of Season 1. The show continues to captivate audiences worldwide, reinforcing its position as one of HBO’s most-watched original series.

In the United States, the Season 2 finale attracted 3.7 million cross-platform viewers during its initial broadcast. While this marks a drop from the 5.3 million viewers who tuned in for the Season 2 premiere, Warner Bros. anticipates a notable increase in these numbers. A portion of the audience likely delayed their viewing due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, which typically sees lower live viewership. It's also important to note that Season 1’s finale set a high bar with 8.2 million viewers—a figure that Season 2 has yet to match.

Despite not surpassing Season 1’s peak single-episode numbers, Season 2 holds a stronger average viewership per episode globally. According to Warner Bros., the current season is averaging close to 37 million viewers per episode, and this number is described as “growing.” For comparison, Season 1 had reached 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers within 90 days of its debut, showing that Season 2 is maintaining—and potentially expanding—on that momentum over time.

IGN recently reviewed the Season 2 finale, awarding it a 6/10. Our review noted that while the finale delivers intense pacing and thrilling moments, it also leaves viewers somewhat disoriented by its abrupt, cliffhanger ending. To help fans better understand the implications of the final scenes, we’ve also published a detailed breakdown titled *The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained*, exploring how the conclusion sets the stage for what’s to come in Season 3.

Since its debut in January 2023, *The Last of Us* has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Praised as one of the best video game adaptations ever brought to screen, the series quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Its first season was particularly honored, earning eight Emmy Awards out of 24 nominations—an impressive testament to its production quality and storytelling prowess.

Every IGN The Last of Us Review

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Last week, showrunner Craig Mazin hinted that a fourth season may be necessary to fully conclude the story arc based on Naughty Dog’s acclaimed video games. Speaking with Collider, Mazin acknowledged that wrapping up the remaining narrative in just Season 3 would be logistically challenging, potentially requiring an extended runtime. Although Season 3 might be longer than Season 2, Mazin suggested that completing the story in a satisfying way will likely require a fourth season. He expressed hope that the team will “earn our keep” and return to bring the saga to a fitting conclusion.