Pearl Jam Release Compilation Inspired by HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’
Pearl Jam have released a new four-track collection of songs connected to The Last of Us franchise, tying together their long-running relationship with the acclaimed video game series and its HBO adaptation.
The EP includes studio cuts, a live performance, and a reworked fan favorite, and arrives with an exclusive vinyl edition available only to Ten Club members.
The tracklist features the original studio version of “Future Days” from 2013’s Lightning Bolt, as well as “All or None” from Riot Act (2002). On the flip side of the vinyl pressing, fans will find a new live version of “Future Days,” recorded at the 2024 Ohana Festival, and a reimagined take on No Code’s “Present Tense,” titled “Present Tense (Redux).”
“Future Days” has become deeply embedded in the lore of The Last of Us. In The Last of Us Part II, Joel plays the song for Ellie in one of the game’s most emotional scenes, and it reappears throughout the storyline as a symbol of connection and loss.
That moment was first brought to life outside the game in 2020, when Eddie Vedder performed “Future Days” live at The Game Awards as a tribute to the game’s impact.
In season two of HBO’s The Last of Us, the song makes a quiet return. In episode five, Ellie picks up a guitar inside a Seattle theater and softly sings the first line of “Future Days,” the moment mirroring a pivotal scene from the video game The Last of Us Part II, where Joel plays the full song for Ellie in a flashback.
The compilation is available now on all major streaming platforms. A limited edition 12-inch vinyl version has also been released through Pearl Jam’s official site, but is exclusive to registered members of The Ten Club.
This release lands in the middle of Pearl Jam’s 2025 global tour in support of their twelfth studio album Dark Matter, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The band’s current run includes appearances across North America and Europe, and has already featured standout moments, including a performance of “Black” in Nashville with Peter Frampton.
Jessica Lynch
Billboard