"The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Viewership Hits 3.7 Million in U.S., HBO Predicts Growth"

HBO has celebrated the continued success of *The Last of Us* Season 2, announcing that a surge in viewership has brought the series’ global audience to more than 90 million since the conclusion of Season 1. This growing fanbase reflects the show's strong cultural impact and ongoing popularity.

In the United States, the Season 2 finale attracted 3.7 million cross-platform viewers during its initial broadcast. While this is lower than the 5.3 million viewers who tuned in for the Season 2 premiere, Warner Bros. noted that the final episode’s numbers are expected to rise significantly, partly due to reduced viewing activity over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

For comparison, the Season 1 finale reached an impressive 8.2 million viewers, setting a high benchmark that Season 2 has yet to match. Nonetheless, there is still room for growth as delayed viewing figures continue to come in.

One encouraging metric for Season 2 is that it currently maintains a higher average viewership per episode compared to Season 1. The second season now averages nearly 37 million viewers worldwide per episode, a figure that Warner Bros. reports is still on the rise. By contrast, Season 1 had reached 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers within 90 days after its premiere.

IGN recently reviewed the Season 2 finale, giving it a score of 6/10. Our review noted: “The Season 2 finale of *The Last of Us* reaches its agonizing cliffhanger ending at a breakneck speed, disorienting as much as it thrills.” We also published a detailed breakdown titled *The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained*, which explores how the finale sets the stage for Season 3.

Since its debut in January 2023, *The Last of Us* has received widespread critical acclaim, with many calling it the best video game adaptation to date. The first season alone earned eight Emmy Awards out of 24 nominations, cementing its status as a standout television series.

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Last week, showrunner Craig Mazin hinted that a fourth season will likely be necessary to fully conclude the story arc based on the two Naughty Dog-developed games. Speaking with Collider, Mazin acknowledged that attempting to wrap up the entire narrative within Season 3 would result in an overly long and rushed season. While Season 3 may be longer than Season 2, he stated that “there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season.”

Mazin added: “Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome.”