The Future of The Last of Us: Druckmann on Story Endings, Season 3, and a Potential Third Game
Druckmann Questions the Viability of The Last of Us Part III
Amid uncertainty surrounding the future of The Last of Us video game series, fans are speculating about where the narrative might head after HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 and Season 3 conclude their adaptation of the second game. Earlier this month, series creator Neil Druckmann cast doubt on the likelihood of The Last of Us Part III, 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.”
TV Series Continuation Beyond the Games?
That raises a key question: If there is no third game, would Naughty Dog and Druckmann extend the HBO series beyond the source material? IGN posed this directly to Druckmann on the red carpet ahead of the The Last of Us Season 2 premiere. His response affirmed that while he has a definitive ending for the overall story in mind, he is deliberately leaving nothing unresolved—precisely because he cannot guarantee the opportunity to realize Part III.
A Philosophy of Definitive Endings
“I have to have an ending,” Druckmann explained. “When I made The Last of Us Part I, I didn’t know if there would be a sequel—so that had to be a definitive ending. When I worked on Uncharted 4, I didn’t know if we’d ever get to do it again. I need it to be a definitive ending. Last of Us Part II, same way. All these things have to line up.”
He continued: “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.”
Time Constraints and Competing Projects
A major factor complicating any potential Part III is Druckmann’s current workload. He is deeply immersed in the HBO series—which will adapt the entirety of The Last of Us Part II across Seasons 2 and 3—and in development of the newly announced PlayStation title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
“As far as everything else—and you’re asking me about future games—my time is so consumed by what we’re doing right now,” Druckmann said. “We have to finish this season. We’re not quite done. We’re almost there. Knock on wood we get to do it again. Season 3 has a lot more story to cover—as you know, with Game Two.”
“And then my hands are pretty full with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.”
A Lingering Concept—Not Yet a Story
In February 2024, Druckmann teased a nascent concept for a possible The Last of Us Part III at the end of Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part II, noting there is “probably one more chapter to this story.”
He elaborated: “The first game had such a clean concept—unconditional love a parent feels for their child. The second one, once we landed on the idea of the pursuit of justice at any cost—justice for the ones you love—we felt, ‘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.”
“The great thing about working at Naughty Dog is that we don’t have to,” he added. “It’s always like, ‘we would love another Last of Us, but if you guys feel passionate about something else, we’ll support this other thing.’ It’s a very privileged position—I never take that for granted.”
“I’ve been thinking, ‘Is there a concept there?’ For years, I haven’t been able to find that concept. But recently, that’s changed. I don’t have a story yet—but I do have that concept. To me, it’s as exciting as Part I, as exciting as Part II—it’s its own thing, and yet it carries that throughline across all three. So yes—it does feel like there’s probably one more chapter to this story.”
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
