The Last of Us is gearing up for a busy few months with the recent Part 1 remake, and the anticipated HBO TV series. With the franchise’s second installment now firmly in the rear-view mirror, fans are eagerly awaiting the third game in the immensely successful dystopian series. Here, we’re rounding up leaks, rumors, and more regarding The Last of Us Part 3.
The Last of Us Part II was one of the most anticipated games of the last decade, borne out of the incredible popularity and acclaim the first game brought.
While some fans were unimpressed with the second game’s story, many saw it as a worthwhile sequel to what is considered one of the best games ever made.
The second game saw Ellie seek revenge for the murder of Joel, as well as navigating her relationship with girlfriend Dina. Those who played the game will know that much was left open-ended, with Ellie allowing Abby to live and Dina disappearing after Ellie ignored her pleas to stay.
There’s certainly room for a sequel, and here are all the latest details on a potential one.
Contents
- Are there any rumors and leaks for The Last of Us Part 3?
- Does The Last of Us Part III have a release date?
- Naughty Dog’s upcoming projects
Are there any rumors and leaks for The Last of Us Part 3?
In April 2021, Neil Druckmann, Creative Director of Part II, officially confirmed that he has penned a story outline for a third game. However, it’s not in active development.
Neil Druckmann tells Script Apart podcast that the plot & story for “The Last of Us Part 3” is already done, but the game is not in development…yet. pic.twitter.com/1SxKzUm4qm
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) April 28, 2021
According to Oops Leaks, a credible leaker of information, Naughty Dog are actively working on several projects at the minute, including The Last of Us Part III: “The outline of the script is ready, but the studio is engrossed in the development of the aforementioned projects.”
Confirming what we already knew, however, they go on to say: “It is possible that development will begin faster than expected due to [the] studio’s expansion.”
The Last of Us Part III
Nothing but official statements from the studio, the outline of the script is ready, but the studio is engrossed in the development of the aforementioned projects. It is possible that development will begin faster than expected due to studio's expansion.
— Oops Leaks (@oopsleaks) March 31, 2022
It seems inevitable that a third game would pick up on Ellie’s story, perhaps revolving around her relationship with Dina. Abby’s involvement would not be guaranteed, but Ellie could yet change her mind over her merciful behavior at the end of Part II.
The very fact that Druckmann has taken the time to plot the third installment is very good news for the series’ fans.
Does The Last of Us Part III have a release date?
Given that the game was not in development as of Spring 2021, any release will be some years away yet.
The original game dropped in 2013, with its sequel announced in 2016 and launching in 2020 (following a couple of major delays). Even an official announcement, then, seems some way off.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
Naughty Dog’s upcoming projects
With uncertainty clouding the third game in the series, it seems sensible to look at what developers Naughty Dog are actually confirmed to be working on.
The Last of Us Part 1
After plenty of rumors and speculation, a remake of the original Last of Us was officially announced by Naughty Dog at Summer Games Fest. The ground-up remake, titled The Last of Us Part 1 launched exclusively for the PlayStation 5 on September 2, 2022.
If you’re wondering if The Last of Us Part 1 is worth picking up, check out our review.
The game has also been confirmed to be in development for PC, however, the release date for the port is currently unknown.
You can find the launch trailer for The Last of Us Part 1 below:
The Last of Us Factions standalone game
Alongside The Last of Us Part 1 remake, Naughty Dog co-president, and TLOU creative director, Neil Druckmann also revealed that the studio is developing a standalone multiplayer factions game set in The Last of Us universe.
What started as an enhanced version of Factions – that was planned to launch with The Last of Us Part 2 – soon grew into an even more ambitious project and is now set to be Naughty Dog’s first standalone multiplayer experience. According to Druckmann, [The team] “really wanted to do something beyond what we’ve ever done at Naughty Dog. This game is big. It’s as big as any of our single-player games that we’ve done and in some ways bigger.”
While details are scarce for now, Druckmann assured that fans would hear a lot more about the project in 2023, and an official piece of concept art was revealed.
Finally, an IP code-named ‘Stray’s Cross’ is thought to be in development from the studio – a new adventure game for which details are just as sparse as The Last of Us 3.
That’s everything you need to know about The Last of Us Part 3, and Naughty Dog’s upcoming projects. We will continue to update this article as and when new information is revealed.
For more information about upcoming game releases, check out our release guides below:
God of War Ragnarok | A Plague Tale Requiem | Hogwarts Legacy | Forspoken | Assassin’s Creed Infinity | Hollow Knight Silksong | Sonic Frontiers | Gotham Knights | Wolverine | Final Fantasy 16 | BioShock 4 | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
