Neil Druckmann Says There’s a 'Dramatic Reason' Spores Are Back for The Last of Us Season 2

Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, showrunners for HBO's The Last of Us, have confirmed the return of spores in Season 2, a notable element absent from the first season. A recent trailer offers a glimpse of this reintroduction, showing Ellie (Bella Ramsey) encountering an infected whose exhaled breath releases a cloud of spores.

You can’t stop this. #TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV

— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025

Warning: Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1 follow.