As The Last of Us universe climbs back to the peak of popularity with HBO's hugely popular series, gamers and fans are naturally turning their eyes to the potential third game in the series. For now, Naughty Dog has The Last of Us Part III Although there has been no official announcement for the series, the statements made by the studio's creative director Neil Druckmann over the years and the series' narrative potential show that this possibility has not been completely eliminated. Although there is no concrete project for now, Naughty Dog's leaving the door ajar for the future continues to create an exciting expectation for fans of the series.
The Last of Us 3 Could Happen If Creative Inspiration Strikes
Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann has been emphasizing in recent interviews that The Last of Us Part III can only be realized when a creatively strong and original idea comes to mind. While the studio’s current energy is focused on their highly anticipated new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann has stated in the past that he is thinking about “a concept” for the third game. Although it has been stated that this initial idea has not yet turned into a concrete scenario, the hope that the right and inspiring idea at the right time can change everything, just like the painful but ultimately rewarding launch of the second game, still remains.
According to Druckmann's own statements, The Last of Us Part II has a "satisfying ending" for itself in terms of narrative. However, the fact that the series' beloved characters Ellie and Abby survived is interpreted as a strong sign that their stories could potentially continue. At the same time, it has also been revealed that Naughty Dog has been working on a story outline focused on Tommy, Ellie's mentor and Joel's brother, but this interesting idea has not yet turned into a full-fledged game. This strengthens the possibility that Naughty Dog may already have unexplored alternative narratives and character-focused stories set in this rich universe.
HBO Series Creates New Breath and Expectations
HBO's highly acclaimed The Last of Us series has brought a whole new breath to the series' brand, while also reshaping expectations for a possible third game. It is known that the second season of the series will bring the story of the second game to the screens and that this narrative is planned to be spread over at least two seasons. While Craig Mazin, one of the series' producers, has clearly stated that they have no plans to extend the story beyond the games, this situation could also strengthen the narrative foundation of a potential third game. The series and the game progressing in parallel could create a correct and organic ground for a new game section.
It is currently impossible to give a definitive release date for a game that is not yet officially in development. However, considering Naughty Dog's current priority projects, it is estimated that a possible The Last of Us Part III could be postponed to a period after 2027. The platform on which the game will be released is also a separate matter of curiosity. It remains unclear whether it will be released on PlayStation 5 or a new-generation platform such as PlayStation 6, which is rapidly advancing in the world of technology. In addition, considering Sony's strategies for the PC platform in recent years, the possibility of the third game coming to this platform after a while is being closely followed by gamers.
Naughty Dog has officially announced that it is currently working on two different single-player projects simultaneously. One of them is their new space-themed IP Intergalactic, while the other is still a big mystery. While it is not known for sure whether this mysterious project is The Last of Us Part III, various rumors in the industry and the studio's past sequel development dynamics strengthen this possibility. However, Neil Druckmann and his talented team have made it clear that they would prefer to return to this beloved series only when they feel the desire to tell a strong story that comes from within, as they have in the past. This shows that the future of The Last of Us universe depends on the spark of creative inspiration.
