Fresh Hopes for The Last of Us Part III Amid Ongoing Speculation
Recent vague social media posts by Neil Druckmann have reignited fan speculation about a potential The Last of Us Part III. Now, comments from Vinit Agarwal, former Game Director of the canceled The Last of Us Online, further fuel that possibility—though Naughty Dog remains characteristically tight-lipped.
A “Future Game” at Naughty Dog
Speaking on the Lance E Lee Podcast from Tokyo, Agarwal reflected on his tenure at Naughty Dog. After leading development on the ambitious, seven-year The Last of Us Online project—including its innovative Factions mode—the game was ultimately canceled. He then transitioned internally to another initiative:
“They made me a game director on one of their future games,” he says. “I stayed with that for a year, and so after a year I decided, ‘No, I’m going to take the plunge—I’m going to take the risk.’”
Agarwal is referring to his new role at a secretive Japanese studio developing a title inspired by 1990s anime—but the more intriguing detail lies in his repeated reference to “Neil’s game”: a distinct, unannounced project separate from Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann’s confirmed next title.
Contextual Clues Point Toward a Third Mainline Entry
When The Last of Us Online was officially shelved in 2023, Naughty Dog confirmed it had “more than one” large-scale single-player project in active development. Druckmann himself alluded in May 2025 to another title “in the pipeline” alongside Intergalactic.
Given Agarwal’s background—deep immersion in the Last of Us universe, narrative sensibilities, and proven leadership on a core franchise title—a pivot to direct Part III would be both logical and efficient. The trilogy structure aligns with Naughty Dog’s design philosophy, and concluding Ellie’s arc against the Cordyceps-infected world would deliver powerful narrative closure. A simultaneous release window for Part III and Intergalactic would also represent a landmark moment for the studio.
With development reportedly underway for at least three years since the 2023 cancellation, this unnamed project is now deeply matured—though still officially unconfirmed.
Druckmann’s Creative Inspirations
In discussing his new project, Druckmann cited the profound emotional bond between Ellie and Joel as a key narrative touchstone—but identified Ico as his most significant creative influence: the first game that made him cry.
Ultimately, while concrete details remain scarce, Naughty Dog clearly maintains multiple high-stakes projects in parallel. Whatever emerges will undoubtedly reflect the studio’s hallmark ambition, emotional depth, and narrative excellence.
