The Last of Us developers may have reached the end of the road for the series, according to recent statements from Naughty Dog’s leadership. Fans eager for news about the franchise’s future will find insights into what lies ahead for The Last of Us and other projects from the studio.

Could This Be the End?

Recent comments from Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann suggest that The Last of Us might not receive another installment. In an interview with Variety on March 5, 2025, Druckmann addressed the likelihood of a third game in the series. When asked about the potential for The Last of Us 3, he responded, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it." These remarks cast doubt on the future of the series in gaming, as Naughty Dog shifts focus toward expanding the universe through its TV adaptation.

Druckmann elaborated on his stance on sequels during an earlier conversation with IGN at the DICE Summit 2025. He emphasized that he avoids planning beyond the first game, stating, "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."

With The Last of Us 2 offering a definitive conclusion to the narrative, combined with Druckmann’s cautious approach to sequels, it seems unlikely that the series will continue with additional video game installments anytime soon. Still, fans can anticipate the highly anticipated Season 2 of the HBO adaptation, premiering on April 13, 2025.

Exploring New Horizons

While the future of The Last of Us remains uncertain, Naughty Dog is hard at work on a brand-new intellectual property. At The Game Awards 2024, the studio unveiled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi project developed exclusively for the PlayStation 5. The announcement featured a compelling teaser trailer highlighting the game’s futuristic themes. As per the official website, Naughty Dog began development on this ambitious title in 2020, positioning it as their most imaginative story yet. Despite the buzz surrounding the project, details remain scarce since its initial reveal.

A Shift in Focus

Previously rumored plans for The Last of Us Online appear to have been shelved entirely. During an interview with Sacred Symbols+ on February 19, 2025, former Sony Interactive Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida disclosed that the online component had to be abandoned to accommodate the creation of Intergalactic. Yoshida cited advice from Bungie, creators of Destiny, who emphasized the extensive resources required to maintain live-service games over extended periods. Recognizing the challenge, Naughty Dog opted to prioritize single-player experiences instead.

Yoshida recounted, "The idea for The Last of Us Online came from Naughty Dog and they really wanted to make it." He continued, "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 both Druckmann’s comments and the cancellation of TLOU Online, it seems that Naughty Dog has stepped away from further iterations of The Last of Us—at least for now. Nevertheless, fans can eagerly await the release of The Last of Us 2 Remastered on April 3, 2025, for PC. For the latest updates on this highly anticipated version, keep an eye on our dedicated coverage!