Naughty Dog is developing two new projects set within the universe of The Last of Us, according to studio head Neil Druckmann. The games are currently in very early development, meaning concrete details about plotlines, characters, and release windows remain unannounced.
Two New Projects Expand The Last of Us Universe
The announcement came via the studio’s official channels following the release of the documentary Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II.
Moving Beyond the First Two Installments
Druckmann stated that the team has discussed telling additional stories within the world since wrapping up production on the second installment, ultimately deciding to move forward with two distinct projects that will expand the existing canon beyond The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II.
The studio emphasizes that production on both titles is in its initial stages. Because the creative process has only recently begun, Naughty Dog has not shared specifics regarding gameplay systems, platform targets, or narrative arcs.
Revisiting a Post-Apocalyptic Franchise
Druckmann addressed the decision to return to the post-apocalyptic franchise, noting that the world holds profound significance for the development team. The studio elected to revisit the property because writers identified meaningful stories left to tell that build upon the established lore rather than simply restating past events.
Origins in Survival and Fungal Infection
Created by Naughty Dog and published by PlayStation Studios, the franchise launched on January 19, 2024, for modern platforms following its initial PlayStation 3 debut a decade prior.
From Documentary Retrospective to Greenlight
The documentary Grounded II, released by the studio to chronicle the challenging development cycle of The Last of Us Part II, provided insight into the creative pressures and technical hurdles the team faced.
That retrospective served as a springboard for internal discussions about the future of the intellectual property, directly preceding the decision to greenlight the two new early-stage projects.
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