Phone Number For Sex Hotline In Playstation Game The Last Of Us

Last week Peter gave us his review of the PS3 game The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. And it seems like they have been very naughty. Apparently unknowing graphic designers placed advertisements within the game for “Pest Control”, unlike in the movies having a phone number such as 555-555-5555, they placed the area code for the phone number as 800. Dialing one of the numbers will give you a notice informing you that the phone number is “temporarily unavailable” though, if you call the other number you get a woman letting you know that you are trying to reach a sex hotline.

Of course I needed to verify the facts for myself and call the number, this is what I heard… “Welcome to 800-666-1234,” moaned a woman’s voice. “Mmmmmm. We’re spread, wet and ready for you right now. Come on baby, let’s play!”

According to CVG Naughty Dog has their tail between their legs now, and has stated that they will be working to take it out. Not sure if they are going to remove the advertisement entirely or just the phone number.

Kotaku contacted creative director Neil Druckmann for a statement.

“That was an artist’s mistake,” he said. “What happened was, they put some phone numbers in the game and then they thought they could just change the area code to 555, then it’s invalid because it’s what they do in movies. But I guess that doesn’t work when you have a 1-800 in front of it. “We’re now working to take it out,” he added. “It was just an honest mistake.”

Personally, I don’t mind that the phone number is there, I find it kind of funny. According to ESRB The Last Of Us has a Mature rating, and by keeping the phone number in the game, could give it an Adult rating. Retail value of this Playstation only game is currently $59.99.

Do you feel that Naughty Dog should leave this advertisement in game, or should they remove it? Let us know in the comments below.

Image courtesy of CVG.