For devoted fans of The Last of Us eagerly anticipating news about Naughty Dog developing Part 3, prepare for disappointment. Series creator Neil Druckmann has effectively extinguished hopes for a third installment in the franchise—either currently or potentially ever.
In a comprehensive interview with Variety focused primarily on The Last of Us TV series, Druckmann was asked about the possibility of The Last of Us Part 3. His response was definitive:
"I was waiting for this question," he said with a sigh. "Let me just say—don't expect more 'Last of Us.' This might be the end."
Whether Druckmann truly means this or is simply deflecting remains unclear. Naughty Dog is currently deep in development on "Intergalactic," announced at The Game Awards last December. Given the absence of a release timeline, the project is likely years away from completion—and with the studio's current focus on this sci-fi venture, there's zero bandwidth for The Last of Us Part 3 in the foreseeable future.
Druckmann could be playing coy, or perhaps he genuinely hasn't committed to continuing the series. Time may shift his perspective—though it's equally plausible that he's truly finished with TLOU. Only time will tell.
For those hungry for more of The Last of Us, the HBO adaptation continues with Season 2 premiering on Max this April 13. While Druckmann remains uncertain how many seasons will be needed to adapt Part 2, an HBO executive suggested in February that four seasons would likely wrap up the story.
