Since hitting the scene in 2013, The Last of Us has earned widespread critical acclaim. Many critics and fans point to the original title as one of the best games ever made. Similarly, The Last of Us Part 2 won numerous awards, even though certain plot developments proved controversial with some fans. Currently, the franchise is still going strong. Interest remains alive through various merchandise, remakes, ports, and a hit HBO series.
Now, Neil Druckmann has dropped a new bombshell. Yesterday, the Naughty Dog director and writer told The Washington Post that the studio is not done with the hit franchise yet. However, a major shift is happening behind the scenes.
Stepping Away From Hollywood
Right now, The Last of Us Season 3 is actively filming. HBO expects to premiere the new season at some point in 2027. This third season will adapt Abby’s side of the story. Furthermore, much of it will run concurrently with Ellie’s journey from Season 2. Ultimately, this will conclude the story of the second game and bring the TV show to an end.
Therefore, Season 3 will act as the series finale. Additionally, Druckmann confirmed a surprising detail regarding the production. Naughty Dog is no longer involved with the TV show. Instead, the studio is refocusing its efforts entirely.
New ‘The Last of Us’ Projects in Pipeline
Even though the show is ending, fans will still get more content. Druckmann explicitly stated that Naughty Dog has “a couple projects” in the works. He promised the studio will talk about them “when the time is right”. He did not clarify if these projects are video games or something else. Regardless, this statement is enough to get fans excited about the future.
Naturally, people are guessing what these projects might entail. Rumors have long suggested that ‘The Last of Us Part 3’ is in active development. Consequently, it might serve as Naughty Dog’s next project after their current game. Previous leaks suggested a third game will focus on a new group of characters. Still, bringing the incredibly popular Ellie back makes a lot of sense.
Additionally, the studio previously did a lot of work on ‘The Last of Us Online’. Sony canceled that multiplayer project, but perhaps Naughty Dog will figure out a way to bring it back in some capacity. Ultimately, it will likely be years before fans learn more in any official capacity.
Where is ‘Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’?
For now, Naughty Dog remains busy with ‘Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’. The studio expects to launch this title in 2027 or 2028. However, fans are growing worried. The game was a complete no-show at the latest PlayStation State of Play. Hopefully, the developers will show more of Intergalactic sooner rather than later so those concerns can be put to rest.
