‘The Last Of Us Part 3’ probably isn’t happening anymore

The Last Of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann has given a disappointing update on the chances of a new game.

• READ MORE: ‘The Last Of Us’ review: an apocalyptically good video game port

The Last Of Us was released in 2013 and told the story of gruff smuggler Joel transporting the precocious Ellie across America after a fungus-related apocalypse. The critically-acclaimed game was followed by a celebrated sequel in 2020.

A HBO adaptation starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey aired in 2023 and inspired a new generation of fans to check out the games. Shortly afterwards, Druckmann confirmed that developers Naughty Dog were considering a third The Last Of Us game.

Last year, he said he finally had an idea for The Last Of Us Part 3 after previously struggling to find a strong narrative. “I don’t have a story, but I do have that concept that, to me, is as exciting as [what has come before but is still] its own thing, yet has this throughline for all three [games]. So it does feel like there’s probably one more chapter to this story,” he explained.

However in a new interview with Variety, plans for a Part 3 have seemingly changed.  “I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of Last Of Us. This could be it,” he said.

In 2023, he explained what needed to happen to make a third game. “If we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love – just like the first and second game did – then we will tell that story. If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.”

“Just because something is successful, people think there’s all this pressure and we have to make a sequel,” he added. “That’s not the case.”

It’s not all bad news for The Last Of Us fans though. The second season of the HBO adaptation is due to premiere next month and creators have said the show will “probably” run for four seasons. 

In other news, Split Fiction has become the best reviewed game of 2025, beating out Avowed and Monster Hunter Wilds.

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