Naughty Dog's Next Move: Two New The Last of Us Games in the Works

Neil Druckmann confirms two new The Last of Us projects are in early development, expanding the canon beyond Parts 1 and 2. Intergalactic won't be fully revealed until 2027.

Did you think The Last of Us was over? Think again. Naughty Dog just dropped a bombshell: there are not one, but two new The Last of Us projects in the works.

The news came straight from studio head Neil Druckmann during The Last of Us Day celebrations on September 26. Yes, that's the in-game date the zombie apocalypse began, and Naughty Dog marked the 2026 event with a charity livestream, fan giveaways, and new collaborations. They even launched official The Last of Us social media accounts, a pretty clear sign that our time with this franchise is far from done.

In a brief post reflecting on the day, Druckmann confirmed that both projects are in the early stages of development. "Both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part 1 and Part 2," he said. "The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn't return to it unless we had something meaningful to say. We believe these stories are worth telling."

Now, before you start dreaming up The Last of Us Part 3, temper those expectations. It's not clear whether either project is Part 3, and we likely won't know for a long time. Druckmann stressed that both are in very early stages, so details are locked down tight. Still, the fact that Naughty Dog is returning to this world at all is huge.

But that's not all. Druckmann also gave a quick update on Naughty Dog's current main project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The sci-fi game was first announced in 2024, and the studio has been pretty quiet since. That silence is going to continue for the rest of this year, because Druckmann says the project needs a little more time to cook before it's fully revealed in 2027. "We know it's been a long time since we've had much to share with you," he acknowledged. "We're working incredibly hard to make something worthy of your patience."

Meanwhile, the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us is still going strong. Work on season 3 continues, and more of the game's voice actors have recently joined the TV cast. But here's the bittersweet part: season 3 might be the end of the acclaimed series. Showrunner Craig Mazin is considering condensing his original four-season plan down to three.

So, what do you think? Are you excited for more The Last of Us, or should Naughty Dog focus on Intergalactic first? And would you be okay with the TV show ending after season 3? Let us know in the comments!