Summary
The Last of Usmight be getting a third entry, which is an exciting prospect for fans of the admittedly small franchise. That said, whileNaughty Dog’s comments aboutThe Last of Us 3could suggest a promising new direction for the series, it does back the developer into a bit of a corner and could spell trouble moving forward.
Although Naughty Dog cut its teeth with several memorable gaming franchises includingJakandUncharted,The Last of Usis arguably what the company is best known for. The firstLast of Usgame was immensely influential, sparking a surge of story-focused third-person shooters in the 2010s and leading to other seminal works like Santa Monica’sGod of Warreboot in 2018.The Last of Us 2, while controversial due to its bold story decisions, maintained the franchise’s fervent fanbase, which was once again reignited and expanded with HBO’s 2023 adaptation of the first game.
Naughty Dog Will Need a New Direction After The Last of Us 3
While Naughty Dog may face some challenges when it comes totopping the strengths ofThe Last of Us 2, there’s certainly potential for a third entry in the franchise. Of course, this all depends on howThe Last of Us 3is handled, as shying away from innovation and risk-taking could make the game feel phoned-in or uninspired. Either way, tripling down on the post-apocalyptic series could come with some unexpected, long-term consequences.
The Last of Us 3 Might Cement Naughty Dog’s Identity
Most Naughty Dog fans would considerUnchartedandThe Last of Usto be the developer’s two main franchises, but with the last full-lengthUnchartedgame releasing in 2016—and little to no news about the series since—Nathan Drake’s adventures are fading from the zeitgeist. On the other hand,The Last of Ushas been receiving remakes, remasters, and PC ports, in addition to the industry-shakingLast of Us 2in 2020. Even the often-acidic discourse surroundingTLOU2has helped the series stay relevant.
HBO’sThe Last of Ushas broadened the franchise’s fan base, stretching it beyond just the gaming community.
Keeping the train running withThe Last of Us 3would only further cement Naughty Dog’s association with the brand, possibly making it difficult to branch out with a new IP. A new IP is exactly what the developer needs because, thoughThe Last of Us 3is an exciting idea, the series shouldn’t need to continue indefinitely to meet the standards of its popularity.
Naughty Dog Is Working On Other Games
An official statement from Naughty Dog in December 2023 notes that it is working on “more than one ambitious, brand-new single player game.” Coupled with Druckmann’s comments about having another story to tell in the world ofThe Last of Us, this statement seems to imply that at least one other title is being developed alongsideTLOU3. This is a good thing, as it hopefully means that Naughty Dog is diversifying after being fully committed toThe Last of Usfor the better part of a decade.
Naughty Dog’s narrative polish, bold decision-making, and attention to detail are strengths that can be adapted to any kind of game, and whileThe Last of Ushas been the last-generation showcase for these strengths, it doesn’t mean that the developer can’t spread its wings. The games industry has seen many studios that went all-in on a single-franchise and ended up milking it dry, so as long as Naughty Dog doesn’t do that withThe Last of Us, the company should be well-positioned to keep delivering strong experiences.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
