Amid swirling uncertainties about the future of the beloved *The Last of Us* video game series, fans are eagerly speculating on where the story might lead after HBO's adaptation covers the events of the second game in its upcoming Season 2 and Season 3. Earlier this month, series creator Neil Druckmann stoked these fires of doubt regarding *The Last of Us 3*, stating, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it."
The big question remains: if there won't be a *The Last of Us 3*, will Naughty Dog and Druckmann continue the narrative beyond the games through the TV series? This pressing query was put directly to Druckmann by IGN at the premiere of Season 2, and his response was illuminating. He emphasized that, despite the uncertainty surrounding a third game, he has a definitive ending in mind for *The Last of Us* story, ensuring that nothing is left unresolved.
"I have to have an ending," Druckmann asserted. "When I made *The Last of Us 1*, I didn’t know if there was going to be a sequel, so that had to be a definitive ending. When I worked on *Uncharted 4*, I didn’t know if we’ll ever get to do it again. I need it to be a definitive ending. *Last of Us 2*, same way. All these things have to line up."
Druckmann further explained his approach, "I don’t know how long I’ll keep doing this or whether I’ll be given another opportunity. So I leave nothing on the line. Right now it’s like, we have an ending in mind. And that ending will be it. That ending will be it for this story."
One looming concern is whether Druckmann will have the bandwidth to develop *The Last of Us 3*, should it be approved. His current commitments include overseeing the completion of the TV series, which will encapsulate the events of *The Last of Us 2* in Season 2 and Season 3, as well as working on the newly announced PlayStation game, *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*.
"As far as everything else, and you’re asking me about future games, my time so much is, we have to finish this season," Druckmann said. "We’re not quite done. We’re almost there. Knock on wood we get to do it again. Season 3, there’s a lot more story we have to cover, as you know with game two. And then my hands are pretty full with *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*."
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
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In February 2024, Druckmann provided a glimmer of hope during the *Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2* documentary, teasing a "concept" for a potential *The Last of Us 3*. He elaborated, "The first game had such a clean concept of like, the unconditional love a parent feels for their child. The second one, once we landed on this idea of the pursuit of justice at any cost, justice for the ones you love, we felt like, 'there's a clean concept here and there's a throughline from the first game, about love.' If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. Last bite of the apple, the story's done."
He added insight into the creative freedom at Naughty Dog, "The great thing about working at Naughty Dog is that we don't have to. It's always like, 'we would love another *Last of Us*, but if you guys feel you're passionate about something else, we'll support this other thing.' Very privileged position to be in, I never take that for granted. I've been just thinking about it, 'is there a concept there?' And for now years, I haven't been able to find that concept. But recently, that's changed, and I don't have a story, but I do have that concept that to me is as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, is its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there's probably one more chapter to this story."
