Despite the ongoing success of The Last of Us as a franchise, with two successful games and a popular TV adaptation, it's apparently been confirmed that TLOU Part 3 won't be happening. When it was originally released in 2020, The Last of Us Part 2 launched to general success, but also a significant amount of controversy, as the direction of the game's narrative sparked backlash from some fans of the first game.
In a new interview with Variety, Last of Us writer and director Neil Druckmann has apparently confirmed that there may not be another sequel, saying, "don't bet on there being more 'Last of Us.' This could be it." While not a total confirmation, Druckmann's statement indicates that a prospective The Last of Us Part 3 isn't likely, even after the launch of Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which was announced at the 2024 Game Awards.
The Last Of Us Part 3 Probably Isn't Happening, According To Neil Druckmann
Another TLOU Sequel Game Isn't Likely, Says Series Writer And Director
The statement is potentially a worrying one for TLOU fans who might have been holding out hope for a full trilogy - unfortunately, no further elaboration has been provided, as the Variety interview was mostly centered around the upcoming second season of the TV show. In the unlikely case that TLOU Part 3 does eventually happen, it would likely still be multiple years away from release, given that even Intergalactic currently lacks a set release window and probably won't come out in 2025.
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Prior to the recent interview, the latest release in the series was The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, an updated re-release launched in 2024 for the PlayStation 5. Before that, the last news regarding a completely new game in the series was the cancelation of The Last of Us Online, as announced on Naughty Dog's official website. In light of Druckmann's recent statement regarding the franchise, it seems like Part 2 Remastered might be the last TLOU game to release - though Druckmann is still heavily involved with the production of the TV series.
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It Might Be Better For TLOU To End On A High Note
Although TLOU Part 3 would probably be a successful game in its own right, it might be better that the series ends with Part 2. While the narrative of the second game was controversial for a number of reasons, Part 2 also ended on a very final note, and it's hard to see how another sequel would continue the story with the same characters and without retreading old ground. Stories, in any medium, that stretch on for too long often run the risk of losing their appeal and alienating their audiences - something that Part 2 arguably already did for some fans.
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Currently, with Druckmann's most recent statement, it seems unlikely The Last of Us Part 3 will ever get made, and Naughty Dog's plans for any game other than Intergalactic are unclear. At the same time, TLOU is a big enough franchise that the release of more games in the same post-apocalyptic setting is entirely possible, even if they're not true sequels to Part 2. As of right now, only Naughty Dog can be certain of what's to come (or not) for The Last of Us, but if it is the end, the series can at least claim to have gone out on a high note.
Source: Variety, Naughty Dog
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure franchise created by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, developed by Naughty Dog. It centers around survivors in a world ravaged by a fungal infection turning humans into aggressive creatures. The story primarily follows Joel and Ellie in the original game, while the sequel adds new characters like Abby. The franchise includes video games, a television series, comics, and other media.
- Created by
- Neil Druckmann, Bruce Straley
- Video Game(s)
- The Last of Us, The Last of Us: Left Behind, The Last of Us Part 2, The Last of Us: Part 1, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
- Current Series
- The Last Of Us
- Cast
- Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Nick Offerman, Rutina Wesley
- Character(s)
- Joel Miller, Ellie Williams, Abby Anderson, Tommy Miller, Tess Servopoulos, Marlene (The Last of Us), Bill (The Last of Us), Riley Abel
