Fans of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us franchise might take heart once again with rumors that The Last of Us Part 3 is in development. Despite Neil Druckmann’s statement to the contrary, these new reports indicate that Naughty Dog may be going ahead with a sequel to its critically and commercially successful take on the survival horror genre, backed by narratives that stayed with players long after they rolled the credits on its adventures.
Joel and Ellie captured the hearts and minds of players brave enough to accompany them on their harrowing trek through the United States in the wake of a deadly virus that caused humanity to mutate into flesh-eating zombies back in 2014, while The Last of Us Part 2 continued Ellie’s story in 2020.
The Long Wait for The Last of Us Part 3
Despite a series of events in The Last of Us Part 2 that left fans divided on how they could have played out, the game was largely successful, leading fans to speculate that a sequel was indeed on its way. However, those hopes were dashed when creative director Neil Druckmann’s recent statement about the possibility of a sequel indicated that Naughty Dog may have perhaps moved on from the franchise.
However, new reports showcase that it may have been a smokescreen, with Druckmann cleverly misdirecting fans of the franchise while Naughty Dog has been hard at work on a sequel with The Last of Us Part 3 already shaping up well.
These reports should be taken with a pinch of salt considering they come from industry insider Daniel Richstman whose predictions have not been as accurate in recent times, but while the gaming community would certainly welcome the announcement The Last of Us Part 3 release date, these latest reports may turn out to be a disappointment rather than a reason to celebrate.
Time will tell if The Last of Us Part 3 is ever going to be a reality, although cautious optimism should be the path to take.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our summary of everything that is confirmed for The Last of Us Part 3, or our exclusive chat with the Lead Level Designer of Rebellion’s Sniper Elite: Resistance.
With a passion for gaming that is equaled only by his love for writing, Varun has either a controller, keyboard, or a guitar in his hands when he is not out exploring the middle of nowhere on a motorcycle. Soulslikes, RPGs, and action-adventure titles keep him awake at night and get him out of bed in the morning. He will never stop lamenting the lack of a Bloodborne sequel even as he spends another couple of hours exploring the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
