Naughty Dog Confirms Two New The Last of Us Projects in Early Development
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New coverage has been added to a developing story about Naughty Dog’s two early-stage projects set in The Last of Us universe. Studio head Neil Druckmann announced them during the series’ day of celebrations, saying they would extend the story beyond Parts I and II and that the studio would return only if it had something meaningful to say.
The projects’ format and details remain undisclosed, so it is not confirmed that they are games. Naughty Dog is also working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which the article says is due to be fully revealed in 2027; it may be several years before the new projects are clarified.
- New coverage confirms two early-stage Last of Us projects.
- Their format and stories have not been revealed.
- Naughty Dog says they will expand the canon beyond Parts I and II.
New here? Start with this
The Last of Us is a video game franchise that started in 2013, telling stories set in a post-apocalyptic world transformed by a fungal pandemic. Since then, it has expanded beyond games to include a television series that premiered in 2023.
Naughty Dog, an American studio renowned for narrative-driven games, created and developed the franchise. The studio produced the original game and its sequel, The Last of Us Part II, and has maintained a cautious approach to further expansion of the universe.
The franchise has built a substantial following across both gaming and television, and announcements about new Last of Us content attract keen interest from fans and industry observers. This level of attention reflects the cultural significance the series has achieved.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A strong case for expanding The Last of Us universe recognises that beloved fictional worlds can sustain meaningful new stories that enrich the wider narrative landscape without diminishing the originals. Naughty Dog's stated commitment to develop projects only when "meaningful new stories justify expansion" demonstrates creative restraint rather than mere commercial opportunism. The franchise has demonstrated capacity for nuanced storytelling across multiple mediums, and audiences evidently welcome thoughtful additions to established universes. New projects need not compromise the legacy of Parts I and II, and may instead offer fresh perspectives, underexplored characters, and thematic extensions that deepen fans' engagement with the world.
The case against
A thoughtful case for preserving the franchise's current scope holds that The Last of Us Parts I and II told complete, emotionally resonant narratives whose integrity risks dilution through endless expansion. When beloved properties are perpetually extended, even with good intentions, they risk franchise fatigue and the creeping sense of commercial exploitation that can alienate devoted audiences. The creative talent and resources devoted to new Last of Us projects might instead generate entirely original intellectual property and stories, which challenge artists and serve audiences seeking fresh narratives rather than incremental additions to existing ones. There is profound artistic merit in knowing when a story is finished and allowing it to remain a definitive artistic statement rather than a perpetually evolving universe.
Full account
Naughty Dog has formally confirmed the existence of two new projects situated within The Last of Us universe, with the announcements delivered by studio head Neil Druckmann during celebrations marking The Last of Us Day. The fictional outbreak date of 26 September was marked by relatively modest festivities, with the substantive news unveiling reserved for Druckmann's address on the evening of 27 September.
Both projects remain in their nascent conceptual phases, positioned to broaden the established lore beyond the narratives explored in Parts I and II. Druckmann deliberately withheld extensive particulars, refraining from clarifying whether these endeavours would materialise as sequels or indeed as interactive entertainment. The creative director stressed that returning to this universe would only occur if the studio possessed tales of genuine substance to convey, stating his conviction that such stories warrant telling.
Concurrently, Druckmann disclosed that the studio's forthcoming science-fiction bounty-hunter-themed title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, would remain absent from public view throughout the remainder of 2026, with a full presentation scheduled for 2027. He characterised the project as destined to constitute Naughty Dog's most ambitious undertaking, acknowledging the protracted interval since Intergalactic's initial presentation at The Game Awards in 2024 and expressing appreciation for sustained audience patience.
The revelation arrives more than six years following the release of Part II in 2020, breaking an extended silence on mainline franchise developments. Though Druckmann deliberately avoided explicitly categorising the projects as games—a rhetorical choice prompting industry conjecture—the announcement provides franchise devotees reassurance that the world will be revisited with intentional purpose, whether through traditional sequels or alternative narrative vehicles.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 explicitly foregrounds Druckmann's strategic ambiguity regarding the projects' medium, whilst Source 2 offers editorial speculation that they are likely games whilst acknowledging the unclear language
Source 1 frames the announcement within broader studio developments affecting multiple intellectual properties; Source 2 concentrates primarily on The Last of Us with reader commentary questioning genre classifications
Source 1 emphasises the six-year content drought and player patience metrics; Source 2 focuses more on speculative possibilities regarding character selection, geographical settings and thematic direction
Source 1 presents the news as mixed developments requiring patience; Source 2 adopts a more exploratory tone inviting audience speculation about creative direction
Coverage
- Destructoid — Rare Naughty Dog update confirms 2 new The Last of Us projects, no Intergalactic updates at all this year
- Push Square — New The Last of Us Projects in ‘Very Early Stages’ of Development
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