PlayStation 5 owners can now download a brand-new, free animated background for the console’s Welcome Hub to celebrate The Last of Us Day 2026. Released on September 26 by Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment, the digital theme is available for all active PlayStation Network accounts.
In the lore of the video game franchise, September 26 marks the date of the devastating Cordyceps outbreak. Naughty Dog traditionally honors this annual milestone with community content, merchandise drops, and special announcements. While the studio issued the animated background on the exact anniversary date, it announced that major community updates will arrive a bit later.
What Features Are Included in the PS5 Background?
The commemorative interface features key artwork that blends both mainline titles in the series. It highlights Ellie’s emotional and physical progression from her younger days in the first game to her older appearance in the sequel. Characters Joel and Abby also appear on their respective sides of the visual composition.
To bring the static artwork to life, Naughty Dog incorporated dynamic visual effects, including animated lightning flashes and moving birds in the atmosphere. The background is designed specifically for the PlayStation Welcome Hub rather than replacing the system-wide home screen wallpaper.
How to Access the Free PS5 Theme
Players looking to add the animated artwork to their console can do so easily by following a few simple steps:
- Open the Welcome Hub on the PS5 home screen.
- Select the Change Background option or open the backgrounds menu.
- Go to the Games tab.
- Choose The Last of Us background to apply it.
Players who do not immediately see the option in their menus can check for updates manually by navigating to Settings > System > System Feature Updates. Alternatively, because the addition is delivered through a backend update, it will eventually appear automatically as regional rollouts complete.
Upcoming Announcements Scheduled for Monday
Although the animated background is the primary release available today, Naughty Dog has confirmed that broader celebrations and reveals will take place on Monday, September 28.
“The celebration will take place on Monday, September 28,” Naughty Dog stated via social media, encouraging fans to look forward to “various updates, including partnership announcements, cool collaborations, and digital surprises.” Additionally, the studio will host a charity stream for the game’s No Return mode on Twitch.
