How Many Episodes Will ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Have? HBO Confirms Episode Count and Release Update

Fans still searching “how many episodes are in The Last of Us Season 2” can finally stop guessing: showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann confirmed that the sophomore season on HBO and Max features a streamlined seven-episode arc, down from the nine installments that made up the breakout first season. Why seven? According to Mazin, the creative team wanted each chapter of the Part II story line to feel “feature-length,” focusing production dollars on bigger set pieces, new infected variants and the sprawling Pacific Northwest setting without forcing filler episodes. Shorter season, bigger spectacle—an approach HBO hopes will keep Emmy momentum while making room in the calendar for the fast-tracked Season 3 writers’ room. The Last of Us Season 2 episode list and release schedule • Episode 1 – “Future Days” premiered Sunday, April 13 (72 min) • Episode 2 – “Through the Valley” dropped April 20 (60 min) • Episode 3 – “The Path” arrived April 27 (55 min) • Episode 4 – “Day One” aired May 4 (53 min) • Episode 5 – “Feel Her Love” streamed May 11 (58 min) • Episode 6 – “The Price” hit May 18 (57 min) • Episode 7 – “Convergence” serves as the season finale on Sunday, May 25 (approx. 55 min) with new episodes always premiering at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on HBO and dropping simultaneously on Max. What to expect in the finale • Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) finally collide, setting up the pivotal theater showdown from the game. • Flashbacks expand Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) time in Jackson, providing emotional context before Season 3’s anticipated time jump. • A post-credits tease hints at Santa Barbara, confirming the series will adapt all major beats of The Last of Us Part II. Will there be a Season 3? Yes—HBO quietly renewed the blockbuster in April after the Season 2 premiere scored a franchise-best 10.2 million same-day viewers, and Mazin has stated Part II’s remaining story will require “at least” two more seasons to tell in full. Expect production to begin early 2026 once SAG-AFTRA schedules align and California tax incentives lock in. Need a refresher before Episode 7? Both seasons are streaming now on Max, and physical 4K UHD/Blu-ray releases for Season 2 hit retailers August 12. Keep this page bookmarked for any surprise runtime updates, bonus content drops and the inevitable Season 3 casting news—the answer to “how many episodes are in The Last of Us Season 2” might be seven, but the conversation is only just getting started.