I imagine that’s to ensure the huge shock of Joel’s death was kept under wraps. If Joel was mysteriously missing from most of the trailer, the internet no doubt would have sussed it out.

I loved playing Ellie. For so much of the game, I shared her deep desire for revenge too. And then playing Abby and growing connected to their story, by the end, I was so torn.

A really unique experience I haven’t had before in a game.

You made me think I was crazy because I remembered mostly the commercials featuring the seraphites hanging scenes, the dance with Dina and Ellie kissing, and some stuff with Ellie fighting Wolves. So I verified, and you are misremembering. Just fast forwarded through every ad for the game before release, Joel is only even in, MAAAYBE half of them, if that. And barely in them at all in most of the ones he is. The one that features him the most is almost all footage from the first game. I'm also pretty sure that the devs were open about that fact that Ellie would be the focus of the game from the time it was announced.

Link: https://youtu.be/fZaNdTmmcpk

The Shield had one dude taking part in the press tour and all. Was in the promo material etc.

He was killed in the first ep to make a point to the audience.