‘The Last of Us’ Isn’t Finished Yet: Neil Druckmann Confirms New Projects That Push Beyond Part II
Every year, fans of ‘The Last of Us‘ mark one date on the calendar, and this year’s celebration ended with news about new ‘The Last of Us’ projects that few people expected. The Last of Us Day falls on September 26 each year and used to be called Outbreak Day, since the date matters inside the story of Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic series.
Naughty Dog moved its 2026 festivities to Monday, September 28, but gave fans a small taste early with the first themed background for the PlayStation 5 welcome hub, an animated split screen of Ellie and Abby facing each other. The day also brought official franchise accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, a limited Bloody Clicker figure made with Youtooz, and 4 new PlayStation avatars featuring faction symbols like those of the Seraphites and the W.L.F.
Then came the headline. Closing out the celebration in a post on Naughty Dog’s official blog, studio head Neil Druckmann confirmed that the team has 2 new projects set in this world in very early development, adding: “I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II.”
The studio head was upfront that details are scarce because the work is still at such an early point. He didn’t say whether the projects will be video games, screen adaptations, or something else, only that both will add to the canon.
The idea of telling more stories in this world has been floating around since ‘Grounded II’, the documentary about the making of ‘The Last of Us Part II’. On the same note, Druckmann explained that the team “wouldn’t return to it unless we had something meaningful to say.”
Neil Druckmann has revealed that 2 new projects in ‘THE LAST OF US’ universe are in early development. “I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II.” https://t.co/FBeUVwIoSC
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 29, 2026
This wasn’t a total bolt from the blue, either. Earlier in September, Druckmann told The Washington Post that Naughty Dog wasn’t done with the franchise and mentioned a couple of projects in the works. Still, this marks the first time the studio has explicitly confirmed that more is coming for the series.
The new trailer for ‘THE LAST OF US’ Season 2 has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 7, 2025
Releasing in April on HBO. pic.twitter.com/J6k1ATrBQf
The reaction online was instant. DiscussingFilm’s post about the announcement pulled in many superfans, and one popular reply joked that Druckmann’s wording was the most graceful way anyone has ever hinted at a 3rd game without actually saying it.
That said, the post never calls either project ‘Part III’. Some fans are guessing that one project could be a true ‘Part III’ while the other becomes a spin-off, and Druckmann has previously talked about a standalone story centered on Tommy Miller, whose arc was reworked for Season 2 of the HBO show. Push Square went further, suggesting any new games would likely land on the PS6 at this point.
Anyone hoping for a quick follow-up should adjust their expectations. Druckmann said the team is focused on what’s shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious game yet, and that the studio will stay quiet for the rest of the year. ‘Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’ is set for a full reveal in 2027.
That sci-fi title was first announced in 2024, and Druckmann has said it has been in development since 2020. It’s also the game he left HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ to focus on, and the series is now filming its 3rd and final season after Druckmann stepped away from showrunning in 2025 following Season 2.
The celebration ended on a charitable note too. Druckmann thanked fans who donated during the stream, which raised $11,000 and counting for AbleGamers. For now, the future of Joel and Ellie’s world stays mostly under wraps. But after years of speculation, Naughty Dog has finally said out loud that the story isn’t over.
What would you most like to see from the new The Last of Us projects?
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