Naughty Dog Confirms Two New The Last of Us Games in Early Development

Neil Druckmann revealed two new The Last of Us projects are in very early development, expanding the canon beyond Parts I and II, while Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet won't be shown until 2027.

Ever wondered what else is hiding in The Last of Us universe beyond Joel and Ellie's story? Well, Naughty Dog just gave us a pretty big hint.

During this year's The Last of Us Day, Naughty Dog Vice President and Creative Director Neil Druckmann shared a message confirming that the studio has two brand-new The Last of Us projects in very early development. Both will expand the canon beyond the first and second games. That's right, two of them.

Druckmann explained that since the release of the Grounded II documentary, the team has been internally discussing the possibility of telling more stories within that world. He couldn't share details yet, but stressed that the studio won't return to this universe unless there's something truly meaningful to say, and they believe these stories are worth telling.

This year's celebration also brought a PlayStation 5 exclusive dynamic theme wallpaper, with the team noting they added visual motion elements like the smoke around Joel and the embers at Abby's feet. Druckmann thanked the community for joining the anniversary stream and revealed the event raised over $11,000 for the charity AbleGamers.

On the sci-fi side, the studio's new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, first revealed two years ago, is still deep in production. Druckmann called it the studio's most ambitious project yet, with all aspects of development gradually coming together, but it simply needs more time. As a result, Naughty Dog will stay quiet for the rest of 2026 and plans to properly unveil protagonist Jordan's sci-fi adventure in 2027.

So what does this mean for you? If you've been starving for more stories set in The Last of Us world, the wait is real, but the intent is clearly there. Two early-stage projects mean the franchise isn't being left behind, even while the studio pours resources into its ambitious new sci-fi universe.

That said, "very early stages" is the key phrase here. Don't expect trailers or release dates anytime soon. Naughty Dog is clearly taking its time to make sure whatever comes next actually earns its place in this beloved world.

What do you think? Are you more excited for more The Last of Us, or does Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet have your attention? Let us know in the comments.