The Last of Us universe doesn't seem to have its last word yet. Naughty Dog has begun development on two new productions that will expand the official story of the series beyond the events of The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II , according to what studio head and series creator Neil Druckmann revealed .
The announcement was made during this year's The Last of Us Day, but it didn't come with any details about the nature of the two projects. This means that, at least for now, it's not certain that these are two new video games. Naughty Dog seems to be keeping its cards close, leaving open the possibility that these productions concern different forms of content.
The important thing is that the two new productions are still in a very early stage of development. Therefore, any information regarding release, platforms, gameplay, or protagonists would be premature.
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"We wouldn't return without something meaningful to say"
Neil Druckmann wanted to emphasize that returning to the world of The Last of Us is not just an attempt to capitalize on a popular franchise. As he said, this particular world is of special importance to Naughty Dog and the studio would not return to it if there were no new stories that it believes are worth telling.
This particular placement is particularly interesting, as the two main games have already created a very complete narrative framework. The first story focused on Joel and Ellie, while the second part significantly expanded the series' thematics, examining the consequences of violence, revenge, and personal choices.
The decision to expand the world beyond the two games thus leaves room for new characters and different perspectives, without necessarily having to repeat the same stories.
The Last of Us: Characters and time period still unknown
No information has been released yet about the characters that will be the focus of the new productions. It also remains unknown whether the stories will directly continue the events of Part II or be transferred to a different time period.
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This opens up a number of narrative possibilities. Naughty Dog could explore events that occurred between the two main games, introduce new communities to the world after the infection spreads, or even focus on characters who haven't been featured before.
At the same time, the fact that it has not been confirmed that it will be exclusively for games creates even more uncertainty. The company could be considering a different format, but has not revealed a specific plan.
Priority is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Despite the announcement of the two new projects, Naughty Dog's main priority at the moment lies elsewhere. The studio is working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new IP that is expected to be a significant change of direction from The Last of Us.
The full reveal of the new title is expected in 2027, with no specific release window announced yet. As a result, the two new The Last of Us projects will likely take some time to take shape.
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For fans of the series, however, the announcement is of particular importance. Naughty Dog shows that, despite its preoccupation with a new universe, it still sees significant narrative potential in the world of The Last of Us.
For now, the big question is not only will be two new productions, but also which side of this world the studio will choose to explore. Until there is more official information, every scenario remains open.
