The Last of Us developers might be done with the series, based on Naughty Dog’s comments regarding its future. Read to learn more about The Last of Us’ future and current projects from Naughty Dog.
The Last Of Us Might Not Get Another Sequel
This Could Be It According To Naughty Dog
The Last Of Us (TLOU) might not get another sequel, making The Last of Us 2 the ending to the storied zombie post-apocalypse series. During an interview with Variety on March 5, 2025, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann was asked about the possibility of having The Last of Us 3.
Druckmann replied, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it." His remarks would put uncertainty in TLOU’s future in gaming as Naughty Dog looks to push the TV series to greater heights.
He previously shared his thoughts on making sequels for games. Druckmann spoke with IGN during the DICE Summit 2025 and said he doesn’t think about multiple games. He explained, "I think you're jinxing yourself if you're starting to think about the sequel when you're working on the first game. So when I was making The Last of Us 2, yeah, sure. Every once in a while an idea pops in your head of where it might go if we get the chance to do another one. But I just approach it as, ‘what if I never get to do another one?’...I'm not saving some idea for the future. If there's a cool idea, I'm doing my best to get it into here."
This could very well mean that TLOU won’t get any more video game sequels in the future, especially with TLOU2 having somewhat of a definitive ending to the story. However, fans can still immerse themselves in the upcoming season 2 of The Last of Us TV series coming this April 13, 2025.
Working On A New IP
Despite the possibility of TLOU not continuing its game series in the foreseeable future, Naughty Dog has been working on a completely different IP. During The Game Awards 2024, Naughty Dog announced that they are currently developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for the PlayStation 5.
The announcement came with a short teaser trailer showcasing its sci-fi elements. Based on its official website, the company has been working on the game since 2020, and it is shaping up to be its wildest and most creative story yet. Since its announcement, Naughty Dog has yet to provide any information regarding the game.
The Last of Us Online Cancelled To Give Way To Intergalactic
It was previously reported that The Last of Us Online was cancelled due to Naughty Dog wanting to focus on single-player games instead, and they hinted that they were working with something at the time. With the announcement of Intergalactic, fans now know that this was the IP Naughty Dog previously teased about.
In an interview with the Sacred Symbols+ podcast on February 19, 2025, former Sony Interactive Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida revealed that TLOU Online had to be discontinued to give way for Intergalactic’s development. According to Yoshida, Destiny creator Bungie advised Sony Executives about working on live-service games and stated that those games not only need to be shipped but also maintained for years to come.
Yoshida noted, "The idea for The Last of Us Online came from Naughty Dog and they really wanted to make it." He added, "But Bungie explained what it takes to make live-service games, and Naughty Dog realized, 'Oops, we can't do that! If we do it, we can't make Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.' So that was a lack of foresight."
With Druckmann’s statement and Naughty Dog cancelling TLOU Online, it seems that the company is done with the franchise, at least for the moment. Regardless, fans can still look forward to the upcoming release of The Last of Us 2 Remastered on April 3, 2025 for PC. To stay up to date with the latest information on The Last of Us 2 Remastered, check out our article below!
Source:
Naughty Dog co-president Variety Interview
Naughty Dog DICE Summit 2025 IGN Interview
Former Sony Executive Interview Sacred Symbols+