Naughty Dog Teases Two New Last of Us Projects

Neil Druckmann confirms two new Last of Us projects are in early stages and will expand the canon beyond Part I and II, promising stories worth telling.

Did you think The Last of Us was done? Think again. Naughty Dog boss Neil Druckmann has once again teased that two new projects set in The Last of Us universe are in the works, and while he's staying tight-lipped on details, he promises they'll be worth the wait.

In a statement shared after this year's Last of Us Day (which commemorates the in-universe Outbreak Day on September 26), Druckmann confirmed that the studio is exploring more stories in the world of The Last of Us. "We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages – so we can't say much about them at this point," he said. "I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II."

That last bit is key. By saying the projects will "expand the canon," Druckmann is signaling that these won't just be remasters or remakes of the same games we've already played. Remember, the first game got both a remaster and a remake within nine years, so anything seemed possible. But this phrasing suggests we're getting something new – though it doesn't necessarily mean The Last of Us Part 3. The projects could be set at any point in the timeline. A Joel and Tommy prequel, anyone?

Druckmann also emphasized that the team wouldn't return to this world without a good reason. "The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn't return to it unless we had something meaningful to say," he explained. "We believe these stories are worth telling." That's a reassuring promise for fans who might worry about the series being milked for cash.

Interestingly, Druckmann used the word "projects" rather than "games." That could mean one or both aren't full-fledged new releases. In previous blog posts, he referred to both The Last of Us Part 2 and the canceled The Last of Us Online as "projects," so the language isn't unusual. But it does leave the door open for something different – maybe a smaller-scale experience or even a different medium. We'll just have to wait and see.

Don't expect to see anything soon, though. Druckmann made it clear that both projects are in the "very early stages," so we shouldn't hold our breath. In the meantime, Naughty Dog is hard at work on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which Druckmann described as "Naughty Dog's most ambitious game yet" and is set for a full reveal at some point next year.

So, what do you think these two projects could be? Are you hoping for Part 3, a prequel, or something completely different? Let us know in the comments!