Exploration of Survivor Communities
Something that really only felt teased in the original game was how the survivor colonies scattered about the United States were doing. While they were briefly seen in the beginning and somewhat at the end, getting a chance to really understand the new cultures that have formed would be a treat. Giving players the ability to interact and explore these areas would not only allow for more interesting player interactions, but could also offer up some interesting set pieces.
Another concept would be to start your own community out in the wild, allowing you to use it as a base of operations. However, given that Naughty Dog typically shies away from big open-world titles in favor of more linear narratives, this is highly unlikely. Either way, it’d be great if players could have more experiences interacting with survivors beyond the ones that just want to shoot you. This is a world where everyone is struggling to survive and broken, disheveled towns are a great way to reflect that theme.