After wrapping up The Last of Us: Part 2, Naughty Dog weighed the idea of immediately starting Part 3 while also debating the fates of Uncharted and Jak and Daxter. Neil Druckmann stopped short of confirming anything, but his comments suggest the franchise still has a long life ahead.

The Last of Us is in a unique place. Since the release of Part 2 in 2020, the story expanded onto HBO with two seasons already aired and a third on the horizon for 2027. Alongside the show, players have gotten both a remake and a remaster, leaving the big question still unanswered: will there ever be a Part 3? To outsiders, the series might look paused, but in truth the franchise has never been more alive.

“I’m working on multiple things connected to The Last of Us.”

In a recent interview with Variety, Neil Druckmann revealed he’s “handling several projects” tied to The Last of Us and other Naughty Dog games, though he carefully avoided confirming The Last of Us 3. He explained that his current role is to “stay very high-level” on the HBO show’s third season while leaving day-to-day work to Craig Mazin. Meanwhile, most of his time is dedicated to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the studio’s bold new sci-fi IP.

Druckmann shared that after Part 2, the studio debated its next steps. “We considered jumping straight into The Last of Us 3, and spent a long time tossing around ideas about what that game might look like. We also still have Uncharted and Jak and Daxter, but the team’s passion was strongly leaning toward this sci-fi concept we’d been talking about for years. That’s where our focus ultimately went.”

Still, Druckmann’s remark about “working on more The Last of Us content” is intriguing, given that another unannounced project is underway besides Intergalactic. While The Last of Us Online was shelved, Part 3 could already be in early pre-production. For now, Intergalactic takes priority, but Druckmann hasn’t dismissed the idea of sequels or even a film adaptation if the new IP proves successful, calling it Naughty Dog’s most ambitious project yet.

He has previously said that Part 3 would only happen if the story justified it. That raises the question: what else might he be working on in this universe? One possibility is finishing the The Last of Us: Part I and Part II Scripts, a 616-page book collecting both games’ scripts, set to release December 16 for around 61 euros. Another option, of course, could be a secret new game.

Although Druckmann stepped back from day-to-day production of the TV series, he remains a guiding hand. “My hope for Season 3 is to keep it as faithful as the first season was, because that’s the standard for this kind of adaptation. At the same time, we enjoy the expansions that naturally come with the medium.”

“So my contribution will remain at that high-level oversight.” This arrangement lets him supervise the series while also pouring energy into the games. Elsewhere in the interview, he noted that “we’re having ongoing talks about Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Intergalactic, exploring different adaptations and expansions.”

He added: “With The Last of Us, we already did a graphic novel; we worked on a movie for years before it became a show, and there are still unannounced things happening in this universe. We’re having some exciting discussions, but right now the main focus is making Intergalactic an outstanding game.”

Looking ahead, Druckmann emphasized that the studio doesn’t like to “plan too far ahead”, preferring to chase ideas that truly excite them. If Intergalactic succeeds, he’s leaving the door open for sequels, but wants to gauge player reaction first. “There are also other concepts we’d love to try out.”

The conversation closed with a notable line: “But that [the series] doesn’t mark the end of The Last of Us at Naughty Dog. Whether in-house or elsewhere, we’re exploring multiple directions. And I’m confident Intergalactic will also open new doors. As long as I’m allowed, my top priority is still making games at Naughty Dog.”

Source: 3djuegos