Entitled fans should take a rest

Memorable art is not possible without risk. Just ask Naughty Dog, the California-based video game developer responsible for some of the most celebrated games of the last decade.

The company’s work includes the “Uncharted” series and “The Last of Us,” a heartfelt story about family and trauma set in a post-apocalyptic United States that won hundreds of awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made.

But in June, when Naughty Dog released the much-anticipated “The Last of Us Part II,” some fans were not impressed. While critics afforded the game near-universal acclaim, praising the complexity of the story, angry gamers took to forums and rating websites to lambaste the game. Some of the criticism was based in bigotry — the game prominently features LGBTQ characters — but much was levied against the same plot critics had widely praised.

So angry are some fans that a petition has been circulated, garnering nearly 55,000 signatures, demanding that Naughty Dog remake the game with a more agreeable plot.

This is not the first time childish fans have demanded the impossible of those who create the entertainment they claim to love. Before “The Last of Us,” franchises such as “Game of Thrones” and “Star Wars” have had to negotiate rabid fan bases, furious that the story had not played out as they had imagined it would.

But people are not entitled to the story they think they want. Artists are trusted to flex their talents and deliver impactful experiences to the masses. And what doesn’t work for one viewer, listener or gamer likely worked for someone else. Tens of thousands of people have criticized “The Last of Us Part II,” but the game was also one of the fastest-selling games ever released, selling more than 4 million copies (at $60 a pop!) during its release weekend.

Highly anticipated pieces of art are bound to disappoint some and thrill others. But that disappointment should never mutate into entitlement.