- Neil Druckmann states that a concept for The Last of Us Part 3 was not figured out until recently.
- The game is still in the conception phase, and it won’t be released for a while.
- He has also dropped a hint at a new IP, which is expected to be released before Part 3.
2024 has been quite eventful for Naughty Dog and its last major AAA release. The Last of Us Part 2 received a new remaster last month, adding native PS5 support.
The studio has also released a documentary recently, taking viewers through the journey of this game’s creation. Toward the end of this documentary, director Neil Druckmann has hinted that Naughty Dog’s next game will not be The Last of Us Part 3.
Why it matters: Fans have demanded something fresh from Naughty Dog since this franchise has been the team’s only IP with new releases since 2020.
Regarding the studio’s future direction, director Neil Druckmann stated that he has struggled to develop a concept for The Last of Us Part 3.
To him, the first two games had obvious themes. While the first was about love, the second game grappled with themes of revenge and violence. He stated that such a theme did not exist for a third game until recently. Neil Druckmann said:
“For years, I haven’t been able to find that concept.”
However, what the director has landed on is just a concept for now. He elaborates that a story for the third game does not exist yet, though the concept is just as exciting as the first two titles.
The director also hinted that the franchise will end up as a trilogy. Neil Druckmann asserted:
“It does feel like there’s one more chapter to the story.”
Naughty Dog has not created something original since 2020. A third game is just a concept for now, leaving the team with the task of figuring out its next project. However, there may be a new IP already in the works.
Apart from discussing The Last of Us Part 3, Neil Druckmann hinted:
“if you guys are passionate about something else, we’ll support this other thing.”
With another Last of Us title unlikely to be released within the next few years, Naughty Dog’s long-rumored new IP is now expected to fill the gap and keep fans engaged.
Last month, a new IP was also spotted on a developer’s LinkedIn profile. Additionally, the studio has dropped various cryptic hints about projects other than The Last of Us, including ones from director Neil Druckmann himself.
Putting this evidence together, a new IP from the developer appears to be a safe bet. Meanwhile, Neil Druckmann will continue to figure out the future of Part 3.
While Part 3 is not coming anytime soon, more Last of Us content is on the horizon from the TV industry. Season 2 of HBO Max’s TV adaptation is expected to arrive later this year, with filming having begun last month.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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