Naughty Dog has hinted at the possibility of developing The Last of Us: Part III, as co-writer and co-director Neil Druckmann expressed in a recent documentary that he believes there might be “probably one more chapter to this story.”
Reflecting on years of searching for a suitable concept for The Last of Us 3, Druckmann revealed a recent breakthrough: “I don’t have a story. But I do have that concept that is, to me, as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, as its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there’s probably one more chapter to this story.”
It’s worth noting that the documentary was filmed some time ago and is an official production in collaboration with Naughty Dog, likely sharing only information deemed suitable for public disclosure, including Druckmann’s thoughts on a potential new Last of Us installment.
Despite this tease, Druckmann acknowledged that if Naughty Dog opts not to pursue a third entry, The Last of Us: Part II serves as a “fine ending point.” He emphasized the studio’s privilege of not being obligated to create The Last of Us 3, stating, “We would love another Last of Us,” but emphasized their freedom to explore other creative ventures.
In a clarification from a 2021 statement, Druckmann revealed that his prior claim of having an outline for The Last of Us 3 was inaccurate. Instead, he referred to an outline for a narrative centered around the character Tommy, set after The Last of Us 2.
While not intended as a full-fledged game, Druckmann expressed hope that this smaller, focused story featuring Tommy might come to fruition through a game, show, or another medium, leaving the outcome “TBD.”
Despite the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game, Naughty Dog is now concentrating on two undisclosed single-player games. Speculation is rife that one of these might be The Last of Us 3, while the other could potentially be a new intellectual property. Naughty Dog has affirmed the conclusion of the Uncharted series, leaving room for the possibility of another studio handling Uncharted 5.
In unrelated news, HBO’s The Last of Us TV series is set to return in 2025, with recent additions to its cast generating heightened anticipation.
