[user104658]

I actually agree with that; playing as Abby first, and hitting the "reveal" at the hotel when Ellie bursts in, would have been absolutely epic... For it to then cut to the opening scenes in Jackson and follow Ellie's path.

I wonder if they considered it? I feel like the reason they might not have gone that way is that people would have been expecting Ellie and Joel and would have been confused, maybe even put off, by spending 10+ hours without seeing them.