The Last of Us Part 3 Neil Druckmann Hints at New Game

Image via Naughty Dog

Fans of The Last of Us may have just received a thrilling hint about the next installment in the series. Neil Druckmann, president of Naughty Dog and director of the critically acclaimed games, recently shared a post that fueled widespread speculation about The Last of Us Part 3.

Druckmann used Instagram to reflect on some of his early sketches from 2003, which were part of the pitch for the original The Last of Us. The drawings depicted a man and a young girl traveling across a post-apocalyptic America—a premise that eventually led to the story of Joel and Ellie. While Ellie did not start out as Joel's surrogate daughter, the core concept of their journey through a broken world remained central to the game.

In his post, Druckmann wrote:

"Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America. Been a wild journey. Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead."

It’s that final line—“few stops that remain on the road ahead”—That has fans buzzing online with many taking it as a hidden hint that The Last of Us Part 3 is on its way.

What We Know About The Last Of Us Part 3

Although Naughty Dog has yet to officially announce The Last of Us Part 3, Druckmann has long hinted that the story isn't finished. In previous interviews and documentaries, he suggested there is "one more chapter" to tell, but the timeline for development is unknown.

Naughty Dog is currently working on other projects, including Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a futuristic PS5 game, and a title directed by Shaun Escayg, known for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. This means fans may have to wait several years for Part 3.

Druckmann has also considered smaller stories, such as a possible side story for Tommy, but has stated that these would not form the basis of a full sequel. Meanwhile, HBO's The Last of Us television series is filming its third season, which is reportedly shifting the focus to Abby's storyline, keeping the franchise in the spotlight.

The Future of The Last of Us

While we don't know what the next installment will look like or when it will be released, Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog have left the door open for the series to continue. With both the games and the TV adaptation keeping The Last of Us' world in the spotlight, fans can hope to see Joel, Ellie, and new characters return for another unforgettable journey.

Meanwhile, players and viewers can revisit the gripping storylines of The Last of Us Parts I and 2, as well as keep an eye out for the studio's upcoming games and the ongoing HBO series.