It looks like The Last of Us Part III is quietly moving forward at Naughty Dog. While an official announcement hasn’t been made, new reports suggest that casting is already underway, giving us an early glimpse into the game’s story.
Rumors of a third installment have been swirling since 2023, though co-creator Neil Druckmann was quick to shut them down at the time. However, he later gave a more open-ended response, leaving the door wide open for another chapter.
He said: “I know there’s a bunch of people wondering about The Last of Us Part III and whether that will be a thing or not. All I could say is, at Naughty Dog we’re very, very privileged that our publisher is Sony — which means Sony funds our games, supports us, and we’re owned by Sony.
“Our process is the same thing we did when we did Part 2, which is if we can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love — just like the first and second game did — then we will tell that story.
“If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.”
That “strong ending” left Ellie at a crossroads as she was physically and emotionally shattered after sparing Abby’s life. She returned home to find Dina and baby JJ gone, leaving behind nothing but the echoes of a life she could’ve had.
She strummed one last song on her guitar, reflecting on her strained relationship with Joel and the fleeting chance of forgiveness. It was a powerful conclusion, one that could serve as the definitive end… unless there’s more to tell.
Now, insider Daniel Richtman claims that Part III is indeed happening, and Naughty Dog is casting a new group of characters. According to his report, “part of the plot will be about a group of scavengers surviving on the outskirts of a post-apocalyptic city, crammed into a Victorian house that serves as their base.”
Here’s a breakdown of the new characters:
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Val – Female, leader of the group.
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Ezra – Male, ambitious and wants to take control from Val.
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Mason – Male, a former soldier torn between loyalty to Ezra and protecting the house.
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Lucas – Male, charming but has a dark side that emerges as he grows closer to another scavenger.
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Gracie – Female, 18-25 (no additional details yet).
It’s unclear how these new faces will connect to Ellie, Abby, or any returning characters, but it sounds like The Last of Us Part III could explore a fresh perspective in its brutal world.
If the game is in development, we’ll likely hear something official before too long. Until then, HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 premieres next month, keeping fans immersed in this universe while we wait for more news.
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