Naughty Dog Says Two The Last of Us Projects Are in Very Early Development

Naughty Dog has confirmed that two new projects set in the world of The Last of Us are now in very early stages of development. The news comes directly from studio head Neil Druckmann, who says both efforts are intended to broaden the franchise's official canon beyond the events of The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II.

The announcement offers an important, if carefully limited, update for fans who have spent years wondering what comes next for one of PlayStation's most prominent series. It does not confirm The Last of Us Part III, nor does it establish that either project is a video game. Still, it is the clearest indication yet that Naughty Dog intends to return to this universe in more than one way.

Druckmann discussed the projects in a studio update while reflecting on the possibility of telling additional stories following 2024's behind-the-scenes documentary Grounded II. He stressed that the projects are far too early to reveal in detail, but made clear that they will both add to the established story world rather than simply revisit the same ground covered by Joel, Ellie, Abby, and the other central characters from the first two games.

"We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages," Druckmann said. "I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II."

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That wording matters. Naughty Dog has often been guarded when discussing the franchise's future, particularly around the prospect of a third mainline game. A pair of canon-expanding projects leaves open a wide range of possibilities: one could be a traditional single-player game, while another might explore a different medium entirely. At this point, the studio has not attached names, release windows, platforms, characters, or formats to either project.

What "projects" could mean for The Last of Us

The use of the broader word "projects," rather than "games," has naturally created room for speculation. Naughty Dog is a game developer first and foremost, and a new interactive entry would be a major development. But The Last of Us has grown well beyond its original PlayStation roots, becoming a larger entertainment property with an acclaimed television adaptation and a substantial audience outside games.

That means the newly teased work could take several forms. A game is certainly possible, whether it is a full sequel, a smaller standalone story, or an experience centered on new survivors elsewhere in the post-pandemic United States. The series has repeatedly demonstrated that its setting can support stories away from its best-known leads. Left Behind, for example, deepened Ellie and Riley's history, while Part II used multiple perspectives to show how much of the world exists beyond a single character's view.

Other possibilities include a screen project, an animated production, a comic, or another type of narrative collaboration. Nothing has been announced to suggest any particular format, and fans should not treat the confirmation as proof of a specific sequel or adaptation. Druckmann's message is deliberately restrained: the important point is that Naughty Dog sees at least two meaningful paths forward for the setting.

His emphasis on meaning is also notable. The Last of Us has never been a franchise built around annual installments or a sprawling release schedule. The original game arrived in 2013, while its direct sequel launched in 2020. Naughty Dog has generally treated each return to the series as a significant creative decision, whether that meant the remake released as The Last of Us Part I, the Part II Remastered package, or the abandoned multiplayer effort.

No confirmation of The Last of Us Part III

For many players, the immediate question will be whether one of these projects is The Last of Us Part III. The answer, for now, is unknown. Druckmann did not use that title, identify a continuation of Ellie's story, or otherwise confirm a direct third numbered entry.

That uncertainty fits Naughty Dog's approach to the question throughout the current console generation. Comments from the studio have at times suggested there may be more to say in this universe, while also making it clear that there is no reason to proceed merely because the franchise is successful. The ending of Part II was emotionally final in some respects, but it also left substantial space for future stories. Whether a new game would pick up after that ending, shift to another protagonist, or move to an entirely different point in the timeline remains an open question.

The phrase "beyond Part I and Part II" could point to stories that follow those games, but it does not necessarily mean a chronological sequel. It could also describe events set between, before, or alongside the existing titles. The franchise's world is expansive enough to accommodate new communities, new conflicts, and new points of view without requiring the return of every familiar face.

There is also a distinction between expanding canon and retelling canon. Naughty Dog's statement suggests original material rather than another version of the events already depicted in the games. That could be especially significant for audiences interested in corners of the universe that have only been briefly referenced so far.

The television series has increased the franchise's reach

The Last of Us has become a major cross-media property since the debut of its live-action television adaptation. The show introduced Joel and Ellie's story to a far wider audience and helped establish the franchise as one of PlayStation's most recognizable narrative brands. It also demonstrated that the world can work in a non-interactive format while retaining its focus on character, loss, survival, and difficult moral choices.

The existing television adaptation is expected to conclude the major events of The Last of Us Part II with its third season. If that plan remains in place, it does not rule out further screen-based storytelling in the same universe. A new project could potentially tell a separate story without altering the adaptation's path through the games. However, there has been no confirmation that either newly mentioned project is for television or film.

For now, it is best to view the screen angle as one of several possibilities rather than an announced direction. The key confirmed detail is that Naughty Dog is actively considering more than one canon-level expansion.

The shadow of The Last of Us Online

The announcement also arrives after a difficult chapter for the franchise's multiplayer ambitions. Naughty Dog had been developing The Last of Us Online, a multiplayer project that was expected to be the studio's major new Last of Us release during this console generation. That game was eventually canceled late in development.

The studio explained that supporting a live-service game after launch would have demanded a major long-term commitment. Maintaining that kind of title could have pulled substantial resources away from Naughty Dog's ability to make the single-player experiences for which it is best known. Rather than reshape the entire studio around years of ongoing multiplayer support, the team chose to stop work on the project.

That decision made the future of The Last of Us in games seem especially uncertain. Fans knew the brand remained valuable, but there was little clarity about what kind of project Naughty Dog might be willing to pursue after the cancellation. The confirmation of two early-stage efforts does not erase the disappointment surrounding The Last of Us Online, but it does establish that the universe remains an active creative priority.

Intergalactic remains Naughty Dog's known major game focus

Even with the new Last of Us projects now acknowledged, Naughty Dog's publicly known game focus remains Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The new science-fiction property is a major undertaking for the studio, and its existence is an important reminder that Naughty Dog is not becoming exclusively dedicated to its post-apocalyptic series.

Because the two Last of Us projects are still described as being in very early stages, there is no reason to expect a rapid reveal. Development schedules can change significantly, especially when a studio is balancing a new franchise with work tied to one of its most established properties. If either effort is a game, its eventual release could still be a long way off.

For players, the update is more about direction than immediate expectations. Naughty Dog has confirmed it has not closed the door on The Last of Us. In fact, it has opened two doors at once. What lies behind them--whether a new PlayStation game, a different form of storytelling, or a combination of both--will have to wait until the studio is ready to share more.

Until then, the safest conclusion is also the most intriguing one: The Last of Us is not finished, but its next chapter has not yet been defined publicly. Naughty Dog wants to expand the canon, and it intends to do so only if it believes the new stories have something worthwhile to add.