Part 5/11:
Despite the controversy, Naughty Dog seemingly continues to include Joel as a marketing tool. For example, in Grounded difficulty mode, players have discovered that Joel's voice can be heard singing "Through the Valley," a song used as a reward for completing the game on the hardest difficulty.
This tactic appears to be an attempt to remind players of Joel’s significance, encouraging them to revisit or purchase the game under the pretense of experiencing more Joel-related content. Ryan criticizes this as a superficial tactic that disrespects players' intelligence and attachment to the character.