Since hitting the scene in 2013, The Last of Us has earned widespread critical acclaim, with many critics and fans pointing to the original title as one of the best games ever made. The Last of Us Part 2 went on to win numerous awards as well, even though certain plot developments proved controversial with some fans. The franchise remains active today, with interest continuing through various merchandise, remakes, ports, and a hit HBO television series.
Neil Druckmann, Naughty Dog director and writer, has now revealed that the studio is not finished with the franchise yet, even as a major shift takes place behind the scenes. In an interview with The Washington Post, Druckmann confirmed that while The Last of Us Season 3 is actively filming, with HBO expecting to premiere the new season sometime in 2027, Naughty Dog itself is stepping away from involvement with the television show. This third season will adapt Abby’s side of the story, with much of it running concurrently alongside Ellie’s journey from Season 2, ultimately concluding the story of the second game and bringing the television adaptation to an end as a series finale.
Even though the show is coming to a close, fans of the franchise can expect more content going forward. Druckmann stated explicitly that Naughty Dog has a couple of projects in the works, promising the studio will discuss them when the time is right, though he did not clarify whether these projects are video games or something else entirely. This has led to speculation among fans about what these projects might involve, with rumors having long suggested that a third mainline game in the franchise could be in active development, potentially featuring a new group of characters while still finding a way to bring back the popular character Ellie. Naughty Dog had also previously done extensive work on a multiplayer project tied to the franchise before Sony canceled it, leaving open the possibility that some element of that work could eventually resurface in another form.
For now, Naughty Dog remains focused on its other title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which the studio expects to launch in 2027 or 2028. However, some fans have grown concerned after the game was absent from the latest PlayStation State of Play showcase, with many hoping the developers will share more details soon to address those concerns. As Naughty Dog continues shifting its attention away from the HBO series and toward new projects within its most successful video game franchise, further details are expected to emerge only once the studio is ready to make a formal announcement.
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