Although many assumed thatThe Last of Ushad ended after its second entry, Naughty Dog President Neil Druckmann has recently stated thatThe Last of Us 3is a distinct possibility. The prospect ofThe Last of Us 3is sure to excite many fans of the franchise, but the game will undoubtedly be bittersweet no matter what the story winds up looking like.
At the time of writing,The Last of Us 3is not in active development. Druckmann has also suggested that his idea for a third chapter in theLast of Usstory could manifest as a TV show or some other form of media, rather than a game.
Following the release of thewildly successfulLast of UsTV show, Naughty Dog’s brooding, post-apocalyptic franchise seems to be more popular and relevant than ever. Even thoughThe Last of Us Part 2was the subject of some contentious online discourse (an understatement if there ever was one), the game seems to have settled into a better overall public reception, now that it has been on the market for nearly four years. But the ending ofThe Last of Us 2leaves quite a bit open-ended, and there are many lingering questions that a third game could answer, no doubt in the unforgiving, brutal narrative style that the series has become known for.
The Last of Us 3 Will Be Bittersweet On Multiple Levels
The Last of Us 3 Will Probably Be the End of the Series
There are countlessdirections thatThe Last of Us 3’s story could take, and the gaming community will no doubt be rife with speculation, rumors, and theories until more concrete information about the game is revealed. But while there is plenty of fertile narrative soil forPart 3, it seems highly unlikely that there will be room for a fourthThe Last of Usgame. When discussing the possibility of a third game in theGrounded 2documentary, Druckmann states that he believes there is “one more chapter” to theLast of Usstory, suggesting that he and the other creative heads at Naughty Dog are aware thatPart 3would be the end of the road for the franchise.
Of course, there have been many instances of a book, movie, TV, or game series that was pronounced finished and later revived for one reason or another, but there’s reason to believe that this wouldn’t happen withThe Last of Us. Naughty Dog has remainedcommitted to leaving bothUnchartedandJak and Daxteralone, even though bringing back either of these franchises would be an easy lay-up in terms of marketability and commercial success. Put plainly, if Druckmann says that a game will be the last of its series, it’s likely to be true.
The Last of Usis an enduring gaming franchise, beloved by millions of players (and now TV fans as well), but it doesn’t need to last forever, nor should it. It’s common practice in the world of AAA gaming to milk an IP for all it’s worth, and while Naughty Dog could certainly turn a tidy profit by releasing a newLast of Usgame or spin-off every few years, this would ultimately dilute the story and undermine what makes it emotionally weighty and effective.
There are already somepotential narrative issues facingThe Last of Us 3, so a more complicated, less conclusive plot is the last thing the series needs—but this would be required to keep the series going beyond its third entry. If all goes well,The Last of Us 3will leave fans wanting more, but it should also be a conclusive and satisfying finale if that’s what Naughty Dog has planned.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
