THE LAST OF US PART III: Neil Druckmann Shares Update On Plans For Third Game

THE LAST OF US PART III: Neil Druckmann Shares Update On Plans For Third Game

Though a third The Last of Us video game is still not guaranteed, co-creator Neil Druckmann has revealed that he does have a concept in mind for Ellie's next (and presumably final) outing...

By MarkCassidy - Feb 05, 2024 08:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Last of Us
Source: Via GameFragger.com

Both previous The Last of Us games were massive successes for Naughty Dog, so it was generally assumed that a third instalment to wrap up the story was inevitable. However, The Last of Us Part III has yet to be officially announced.

Rumors began to do the rounds that development was already underway on Part III early last year, but co-creator Neil Druckmann debunked the reports soon after.

The Naughty Dog co-president did later offer a slightly more positive update, though.

“I know there’s a bunch of people wondering about The Last of Us Part 3 and whether that will be a thing or not,” Druckmann told Buzzfeed. “All I could say is, at Naughty Dog we’re very, very privileged that our publisher is Sony — which means Sony funds our games, supports us, and we’re owned by Sony."

“Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part 2, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story. If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.”

“Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part 2, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story. If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.”

Part II concluded with Ellie deciding not to allow vengeance to consume her completely by sparing Abby's life and returning home (a couple of fingers short) to find that Dina and baby JJ had left. She picks up her guitar, strums Pearl Jam's "Future Days," and thinks back to the night she made an effort to forgive Joel and attempted to mend their strained relationship.

Ellie then sets the guitar down and leaves.

It's a powerful, haunting final sequence, and as Druckmann rightly points out, would serve as a fitting end to the story if a third game never happens. The thing is, Part III might just see the light of day at some point!

In the new Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II feature documentary, Druckmann reveals that he does have a concept in mind for a follow-up to Part II, noting that the story is “as exciting as I, as exciting as II, is its own thing, yet has this through-line for all three.”

He doesn't reveal any details, but does reiterate that, if another game simply isn't meant to be, he sees Part II as a more than satisfactory conclusion.

“The first game had such a clean concept of 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, it felt like there’s a clean concept here and there’s a through-line from the first game about love. If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. The last bite of the apple, the story’s done.”

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is now available on PS5. Check out the doc below (it's well worth a watch), and let us know what you'd like to see from a third game in the comments section.

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 2/5/2024, 8:34 AM
So maybe 10 years from now lol
TheLight
TheLight - 2/5/2024, 9:46 AM
@bobevanz - By then would anyone still care😂?
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 2/5/2024, 10:27 AM
@TheLight - Yeah, fans of the first two. And all the new fans just getting into the games because of the show.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 2/5/2024, 1:33 PM
@bobevanz - yeah maybe when ps6 launches? there was an 8 yr gap between god of war 3 and god of war ps4.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 2/5/2024, 8:41 AM
“The Last of Us Part III has been delayed and will no longer release by 2032…”
RedFury
RedFury - 2/5/2024, 8:42 AM
Reading through the lines it sounds like they're working and developing a third one already. The talk about Sony owning them and keeping them afloat suggests to me that they have the freedom of blue sky development on the last of us three without any super strict deadlines.

The last of us being such a massive success as a game franchise is indication enough that they'll keep making them. I can't see us not getting a trilogy out of it at the very least.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 2/5/2024, 8:45 AM
It will happen, but not sure where Ellie's story goes from there without repeating tropes of the first two.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 2/5/2024, 8:54 AM
It ended with the first game.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 2/5/2024, 9:09 AM
@HashTagSwagg - funny... Could have sworn I played a better sequel
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 2/5/2024, 9:41 AM
@MarkCassidy - Dude, raise your standards.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 2/5/2024, 10:29 AM
@MarkCassidy - First was a 10/10 story with 6/10 gameplay, 2nd is an 8/10 story with 10/10 gameplay

Imho
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 2/5/2024, 10:58 AM
@HashTagSwagg - my standards are just fine. Let me take a wild swing here and guess that you didn't like it because it was "woke"?
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/5/2024, 11:49 AM
@MarkCassidy - I'm with you, I actually liked Part 2 more as well
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 2/5/2024, 12:02 PM
@MarkCassidy - The woke shit is a huge minus don't get me wrong, gameplaywise it just felt like I was playing the first one again with slightly better graphics, after you get to the third mission it loses that appeal. Story wise and I have to highlight the story because that was the standout in the first game was a complete shit show filled with stupid creative decision's made not because it was driven by story but because the dude wanted to go from A to F without BCDE. Joel was the star of the first game and he's treated like trash in this and quickly and unceremoniously discarded all because Cuckman wanted us to see Ellie as the star. Then he expects us to sympathise with his killer who also a homewrecking piece of shit as were forced to play as her throughout large portions of the game and then we're forced to try and kill Ellie seconds after she kills one of her friends and almost kills the last remaining family she had. We aren't even given any resolution as Ellie decides to spare senator Abby Armstrong at the last second, there's no reward for your struggle, there's no pay off for Ellie "seeing the light". It's just a miserable experience that leave a bad taste in your mouth and the big takeaway is revenge bad. Truely ground breaking material.
TheLight
TheLight - 2/5/2024, 9:45 AM
Part II was a solid conclusion. No one got what they wanted and it was more or less bittersweet.


The story ended with Abby and Ellie, both broken emotionally and mentally, alive but going into an unknown future. No need to push it further.

Drunkmann needs to move on.
Batmandalorian
Batmandalorian - 2/5/2024, 10:05 AM
rather have another uncharted. with Nathan Drake not his daughter
OptimusCrime
OptimusCrime - 2/5/2024, 10:06 AM
I hate Part 2 with a passion,

But loved seeing Ellie and Joel in those Flashbacks
TREE24K
TREE24K - 2/5/2024, 10:55 AM
For some reason, my son had me play the 2nd one. I only knew a little bit about the 1st one. In my experience, Abby is the hero, Joel was the bad guy and Ellie was the misguided soul who wanted to avenge a monster. I'm glad I started with the 2nd one first. It gave me a different perception from just about anyone else who played it in order. That was a good life lesson too because how many conflicts in life are about perspective. In their own story, most bad guys see themselves as the hero. Joel was NOT a hero.
HxCorbett
HxCorbett - 2/5/2024, 1:24 PM
@TREE24K - played both, loved both. I'll admit the way the second one was built in terms of timeline did not do Abby any favors but I share the same opinion as you.

have you seen the Making Of Part II documentary that dropped on Friday? It's a damn good watch
TREE24K
TREE24K - 2/5/2024, 4:12 PM
@HxCorbett - I have not. On YouTube?
HxCorbett
HxCorbett - 2/6/2024, 4:45 PM
@TREE24K - yessir, naughty dog dropped it on their YT. it's a couple hours but it's worth it if you're a fan!
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/5/2024, 11:52 AM
Druckmann already has a concept, and it says on his social media that he's working on an unannounced game. Could be Part 3, but I'm hoping we'll see Uncharted 5 first.

As for Part 3, there's no rush anyway. At this rate, Part 2 will catch up in 2027 with the show adaptation at this rate. So ND has until 2029 before we'll be a few years without TLOU content.
CanGuy67
CanGuy67 - 2/5/2024, 7:54 PM
@bkmeijer1 -Looong-time lurker, first-time poster! The moment I finished part2, I immediately thought the 3rd game should be Dina & Tommy getting killed by Scar remnants and the baby kidnapped and Ellie, out for revenge but up against unbeatable odds, seeks out the only badasses who can match her, Abby and Lev. Discuss amongst yourselves.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/6/2024, 1:25 AM
@CanGuy67 - I kinda wanna see Tommy get a bigger role, but Ellie & Abby having to team up would be interesting too
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 2/5/2024, 2:29 PM
more close up shots of ugly angry Lesbians kissing and big hairy armed trannies getting pegged in the buttocks......yes please
CanGuy67
CanGuy67 - 2/5/2024, 7:57 PM
Looong-time lurker, first-time poster! The moment I finished part2, I immediately thought the 3rd game should be Dina & Tommy getting killed by Scar remnants and the baby kidnapped and Ellie, out for revenge but up against unbeatable odds, seeks out help from the only badasses who can match her, Abby and Lev. Discuss amongst yourselves.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 2/20/2024, 9:54 AM
@CanGuy67 - welcome, now choose your side.

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