The Last of Us Part II was a highly anticipated game that followed the success of its predecessor. While some fans didn’t love the sequel’s story, many thought it added to the greatness of the series.  In the second game, Ellie seeks revenge for Joel’s murder and deals with her relationship with Dina. The ending leaves things open, with Ellie sparing Abby and Dina leaving after Ellie ignores her. 

People are curious about a potential sequel, and this guide will cover all the latest rumors about The Last of Us Part 3 story, leaks from Naughty Dog, the development phase, and more.

Is The Last of Us Part 3 Actually In Development?

Yes, The Last of Us Part 3 is in development, according to Neil Druckmann, the creative director at Naughty Dog. However, as of March 2024, the game is still in the early concept stage, and there’s no sign of writing having started.

Druckmann shared that he had struggled for years to find a concept worthy of following up the first two games but recently had a breakthrough, at the very end of Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II. He emphasized the importance of the third game maintaining thematic continuity with the first two while also feeling like a fresh chapter in the series. At last, Druckmann expressed his belief that there’s still one more chapter to tell in the story.

Possible Storyline of The Last of Us Part 3

In January 2023, Neil Druckmann, the creator of the first part and creative director of the second part of the game, talked about the possibility of a third part in an interview with BuzzFeed. He said that if they could think of a good story with a powerful message about love, like the first two games, they would make it. But if they can’t, they’re happy with how the story ends in the second game.

But since in Feb 2024, Druckmann confirmed that The Last of Us Part 3 is officially coming, it looks like there might be another game continuing Ellie’s story, possibly focusing on her relationship with Dina. Abby might not necessarily be part of it, but Ellie could reconsider her decisions from the end of Part 2.

The Last of Us Part 3 Release Date

Neal Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us Part 3, recently mentioned that the game might not be released for over ten years. Other analysts suggest a possible launch in late 2025, marking five years since Part 2’s release.

Some estimates suggest it could come out around 2026 or 2027 if the pre-production started in 2022. However, Druckmann’s remarks hint that it might be closer to 2030, especially since another new game is expected before it. 

The Last of Us Part 3 Leaks and Rumors

Development Status of The Last of Us Part 3

April 2021

In April 2021, Neil Druckmann, who was the Creative Director for the second part, confirmed that he had written an outline for a third game, but they weren’t actively working on it at that time.

Then Oops Leaks, a trusted source of insider information revealed that Naughty Dog is currently working on multiple projects, including The Last of Us Part 3. They’ve got the basic story outline ready, but they’re really focused on other projects right now. But here’s the interesting part: Oops Leaks suggested that because Naughty Dog is growing, development on The Last of Us Part III might start sooner than we thought.

January 2023

Fast forward to 2023, in an interview before the TV series premiered, Druckmann hinted again that a third game could be in the works, stating that there’s more story to explore. However, he emphasized the importance of not rushing into it without a strong and compelling narrative, to avoid the pitfalls experienced by shows like Game of Thrones.

Then in an interview with IGN in February 2023, Druckmann reiterated this stance, saying that Part 3 would only happen if they could come up with a truly compelling story. 

December 2023

In December 2023, Jeffrey Pierce, who voices Tommy Miller in the games, mentioned that there hasn’t been any concrete development towards a third game yet. He expressed cautious optimism, not wanting to get his hopes up without knowing what direction the potential third game might take.

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