Honestly, it feels like a lifetime since we first stepped into that overgrown version of Austin with Joel and Sarah. It was 2013. The PS3 was screaming its fans out trying to render those god-tier lighting effects. Since then, the franchise has become something of a heavy crown for Naughty Dog. You've seen the HBO show, you've probably argued about Abby on a subreddit at 2 a.m., and you might even be wondering if the The Last of Us game series is effectively "done" now that we're sitting here in 2026.
There is a lot of noise out there. Rumors. Leaks. Emotional Reddit threads. But if you actually look at the state of Naughty Dog right now, the picture is way more complicated than just "they're making a sequel."
The Factions Ghost and Why It Still Hurts
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the cancelled multiplayer game. For years, fans were promised a standalone experience that would evolve the "Factions" mode from the original. It was supposed to be huge. Ambitious. A live-service titan.
Then, it just... vanished.
Basically, Naughty Dog hit a wall. They realized that to support a massive live-service game, they’d have to turn into a "live-service studio." That means less time for the cinematic, single-player masterpieces that put them on the map. They chose to kill the project to save their identity. It was a brutal call, but probably the right one if you care about story-driven games.
Even now, two years after the official cancellation, people are still digging through the wreckage. Modders are trying to salvage what they can from the PC files of Part I and Part II to recreate some semblance of that multiplayer magic. It’s a testament to how much people actually wanted it.
Where is The Last of Us Part III?
You've probably heard the quote from Neil Druckmann in the Grounded II documentary. He mentioned having a "concept" for a third chapter. That’s it. Just a concept.
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Don't hold your breath for a 2026 release.
Currently, the studio is deep in the trenches with a brand-new IP. It’s called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Yeah, Naughty Dog is going to space. While a small team is likely whiteboarding ideas for Ellie’s future, the bulk of the 400+ employees are focused on this new sci-fi world.
The Sales Gap Nobody Talks About
There’s this weird narrative that Part II was a total flop because it was "divisive." Let's look at the actual numbers. By 2022, Part II had sold over 10 million copies. That’s massive. However, compared to the original The Last of Us game (which has moved over 30 million units across its various iterations), there is a clear difference in "shelf life."
The first game is like Skyrim. Sony will put it on every piece of hardware until the sun burns out. Part II, even with its recent Remastered version on PS5 and the PC port that dropped in 2025, hasn't quite captured that same universal "must-play" status for the casual crowd.
- Part I: Universally loved, accessible story, "The Dad Game."
- Part II: Brutal, challenging, intentionally uncomfortable.
It’s a harder sell to your cousin who only plays FIFA and Call of Duty.
The HBO Effect in 2026
We are currently in the middle of the "Second Wave" of interest. With Season 2 of the HBO series having wrapped up and Season 3 (covering the latter half of the second game) on the horizon for 2027, the games are seeing a massive spike in players. In fact, Part II Remastered saw a nearly 2 million unit bump just during the Season 2 airing window.
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Television has done what marketing couldn't: it made the general public care about Abby and Lev.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lore
There is this persistent idea that Ellie "failed" at the end of Part II.
If you look at the game through a technical lens, specifically the way the final fight in Santa Barbara is animated, it’s not about failure. It’s about the "concept" Druckmann mentioned. The throughline is about the cost of justice versus the value of mercy.
Wait. Did you notice the guitar in the final scene? People argue about whether Ellie can still play, but that’s missing the point. She left the guitar. She left the physical manifestation of her grief and Joel's burden.
That is growth. Not failure.
Is There a Future for Joel?
Honestly? Probably not in the way you want.
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Unless Naughty Dog decides to do a prequel—which they’ve historically avoided—Joel’s story is a closed loop. The studio is very protective of the emotional weight of his death. Bringing him back for "flashback fanservice" in a third game would feel cheap.
The next The Last of Us game will likely focus on:
- Abby and Lev finding the reformed Fireflies at Catalina Island.
- Ellie searching for a new purpose now that she's no longer defined by her immunity or her revenge.
- A New Protagonist entirely, perhaps in a different part of the world.
The world is too big to stay stuck in Wyoming and Seattle forever.
The Technical Legacy
Let’s be real for a second. Naughty Dog’s engine is still the gold standard. Even three years into the PS5 Pro's lifecycle, the "No Return" mode in Part II Remastered looks better than 90% of games coming out today. The facial animation system they used—where characters actually show micro-expressions of pain or hesitation—hasn't been topped.
Other studios are still playing catch-up to a game that originally came out in 2020.
Actionable Steps for Fans in 2026
If you’re itching for more content and can’t wait for Intergalactic to release so they can finally move on to Part III, here is what you should actually do:
- Play the "No Return" Roguelike Mode: If you skipped the Part II Remastered, you’re missing the best combat mechanics in the industry. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to Factions.
- Watch the Grounded II Documentary: It’s free on YouTube. It explains exactly why the multiplayer was killed and shows the toll the development took on the team.
- Keep an eye on PC Mods: The community is currently adding "Peek Mode"—a cut mechanic from the original dev cycle—back into the game. It changes the stealth dynamic entirely.
- Ignore the "Part III Reveal" Leaks: Most of these are just engagement bait for Twitter. If it doesn't come from a Sony State of Play or a Naughty Dog blog post, it’s likely fake.
The franchise isn't dead. It's just resting. Naughty Dog is a "one game at a time" studio now. They've seen what happens when you overextend (looking at you, Factions), and they aren't going to rush the next chapter of Ellie’s life just to satisfy a quarterly earnings report.
Stay patient. Endure and survive.