The original The Last of Us delivered a powerful narrative with an ambiguous ending that didn’t necessarily demand a sequel. Yet, Naughty Dog, under the creative direction of Neil Druckmann, felt compelled to explore the world further, resulting in the equally impactful The Last of Us Part II. This sequel, however, left several unanswered questions, fueling anticipation for a potential third installment. While the studio initially focused on a multiplayer spin-off, The Last of Us Online, that project has since been shelved, with Naughty Dog returning its attention to single-player experiences. This includes the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part III. Naughty Dog continues to solidify its reputation as a leading PlayStation studio, alongside Insomniac (currently developing Marvel’s Wolverine) and Sucker Punch (creators of Ghost of Tsushima).
While initial details were scarce, the development of a third chapter is now confirmed. But what else do we know about this upcoming title? Let’s delve into all the available information we’ve gathered on The Last of Us Part 3. While you won’t find it among upcoming Xbox Series X or Nintendo Switch releases, it’s a potential addition to the PC gaming landscape, given PlayStation’s recent trend of porting exclusives.
The Last of Us Part 3 Release Date Speculation
Joel looks at Ellie in The Last of Us Part 2.Image: Naughty Dog
While The Last of Us Part 3 is confirmed to be in development at Naughty Dog, its current stage of progress and release window remain unknown. The studio’s announcement of a new sci-fi IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, at The Game Awards 2024 suggests a later launch for The Last of Us Part 3 than initially anticipated. Given Naughty Dog’s commitment to meticulous detail and polish, a 2027 release date, or even later, wouldn’t be surprising.
The Last of Us Part 3 Platforms
A house burns in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.Image: Naughty Dog
The Last of Us Part 3 is confirmed for PlayStation 5. Barring any unforeseen next-gen console releases and subsequent development shifts, it’s safe to assume PS5 compatibility. Given the PC ports of the previous two installments, a PC release for Part 3 is highly likely, although potentially a year or more after the initial PlayStation launch.
The Last of Us Part 3 Trailers and Announcements
Currently, there are no trailers, screenshots, or even concept art available for The Last of Us Part 3. Information remains limited to high-level confirmations of its existence.
Naughty Dog’s initial confirmation of single-player projects came with the announcement regarding the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, stating, “We have more than one ambitious, brand new single-player game that we’re working on here at Naughty Dog, and we cannot wait to share more about what comes next when we’re ready.”
The Grounded 2 documentary, released alongside The Last of Us Part II Remastered, provided further insight. Druckmann discussed a potential third entry: “I’ve been thinking about, ‘Is there a concept there?’ And for years, I haven’t been able to find that concept. But recently, that’s changed. I don’t have a story, but I do have that concept that, to me, is as exciting as I, as exciting as II, is its own thing, yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there’s probably one more chapter to this story.”
While not directly confirmed to be related to The Last of Us Part 3, Troy Baker (Joel’s voice actor) mentioned in a GQ interview his involvement in Druckmann’s next project. This could be a separate endeavor, especially considering Joel’s fate. However, there are narrative possibilities for Joel’s inclusion, or perhaps a new character portrayed by Baker, in a third game.
The Last of Us Part 3 Gameplay
Joel places a rifle on a table in The Last of Us Part I.Image: Naughty Dog
Both The Last of Us games share a core gameplay loop of stealth-action, resource management, and light horror elements. It’s reasonable to expect Part 3 to build upon this foundation, potentially introducing new weapons, enemies, and mechanics, similar to the evolution between the first two games.
The Last of Us Part 3 Preorders
With The Last of Us Part 3 still in early stages of development, preorders are not yet available. It’s likely to be a considerable wait before preorders become available.
