With the release of the remastered version of The Last of Us Part 2, the buzz around the franchise reignited, and then just two weeks later, the studio released a documentary on the making of the sequel. In those two hours, a few comments point to the possibility of a third game.
The Last of Us Part 3
Before you get your hopes up, it's important to note that this is not a confirmation from Naughty Dog himself. All he ever said was that he already had a concept in mind for the continuation of the franchise, and that might be enough to get the ball rolling.
Druckmann mentioned that there was "one more chapter to this story," meaning that the writer/creative director for the game believes that there's more to explore. It makes sense, especially since there were a lot of open-ended aspects that fans want closure with.
Even if Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us Part 3, even if it is just a concept in Neil Druckmann's head for now, it could still take a while before we even see a trailer for the game, especially since according to Gizmodo, there are other titles in the queue.
The studio is reportedly working on a sci-fi game that was first mentioned in 2021. Calculating the creation and development of that title as well as The Last of Us Part 3, we will be waiting a very long while to see the story continue through the video games.
When accounting for both the time it takes to create the unknown sci-fi game and the third chapter of The Last of Us, we would be lucky to see its release within the decade. By that time, it might be an exclusive for the PS6.
Read Also: Naughty Dog Team Talks About Death Threats They Received in The Last of Us Part 2 Documentary
What Fans Want to See
It's understandable to have conflicting feelings about the ending of The Last of Us Part 2. In such a divisive ending, some fans are disappointed that after all Ellie went through and sacrificed, she failed to do what she was meant to.
On the other hand, some fans were also satisfied with Ellie's decision to spare Abby, as she was the one to end the cycle of the revenge-fueled feud. One can also appreciate the parallel between her and Joel upon seeing Abby and Lev's dynamic, and how sparing her was what she would've wanted with Joel.
As for Part 3, players in various forums are clamoring for the continuation of Ellie and Dina's story, as they refuse to accept that Ellie ended up being alone, which was her worst fear. There are also some brilliant plot suggestions that are floated around.
For instance, fans believe that Abby should play an important role in the third chapter, particularly in saving or helping Ellie in whatever she is facing. This could serve as a clearer reason why sparing her on the beach was the right decision.
By the time The Last of Us Part 3 is released (if Naughty Dog decides to do so), it could be just in time for the third season of the show, considering that according to Screen Rant, there's a possibility that The Last of Us Part 2's adaptation will be split into two parts.
Related: HBO's 'The Last of Us' Becomes the Most Pirated Show of 2023
