After a Year of Hints, the Last of Us Has ‘a Couple Projects’ in the Works

The Last of Us isn’t finished yet. Neil Druckmann has confirmed, “We’re not done with The Last of Us. There’s a couple projects in the works” giving fans some much-needed hope for the series.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Druckmann discussed Naughty Dog’s future with the series while explaining his lack of involvement in the third season of HBO’s The Last of Us.

“It’s important for us to note that as the creator of the games, Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP,” Druckmann said, adding that even if the HBO adaptation is coming to an end, “we’re not done with The Last of Us.”

“There’s a couple projects in the works that, when the time is right, I’m very excited to talk about.”

And unfortunately, that’s about as much as he was willing to give away for now, but even that is enough to get gamers excited and the rumor mill turning.

There are currently no official titles or release dates, and more importantly, Druckmann hasn’t actually confirmed that these projects are new games at all. Realistically, these could be adaptations, remasters, even a podcast or a comic. So, as tempting as it may be to read this as confirmation of The Last of Us Part III, we’re not there yet.

From “in Talks” to “in the Works”

Still, his choice of words is interesting when you look back.

In September 2025, Druckmann told Variety there was unannounced stuff happening in The Last of Us world and went on to explain that Naughty Dog was “in talks to do multiple things”, while discussing possible adaptations and expansions. He also referred to “various [The] Last of Us things” he was working on beyond the HBO show.

By March this year, he was getting more cryptic. Reflecting on the franchise’s origins on Instagram, Druckmann said he was grateful for “the few stops that remain on the road ahead.”

Now, almost exactly a year after his teasing “in talks” comment, Druckmann’s language is notably more concrete, with “in the works” giving fans considerably more to speculate about. Whether they’re the same projects discussed in 2025 remains unknown. 

Could One Be the Last of Us Part III?

There could be a few clues in Naughty Dog’s past about what these projects might involve. Druckmann previously revealed that a smaller story centred around Tommy and set after Part II had been written but shelved. He also discussed a concept that could provide “one more chapter” to the main story in 2024, before warning fans in March 2025 not to bet on another The Last of Us game, saying “this could be it.”

Druckmann later clarified that his “this could be it” comment wasn’t necessarily him closing the door on The Last of Us. He explained that he treats every project as though it could be his last, pouring everything into it because “so many stars have to align” before another game can happen.

That caution is particularly interesting in hindsight. Later in 2025, Druckmann revealed that Naughty Dog had actually spent “a really long period” exploring ideas for a third game after Part II before the team ultimately chose to pursue Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet instead. It shows that another mainline game has been seriously considered, but that is still a long way from confirming one is among the projects currently “in the works.”

His reluctance to make promises also makes some sense when you consider what The Last of Us has become. The franchise itself grew from a rejected student pitch Druckmann refused to abandon; now, every vague comment he makes carries the weight of one of PlayStation’s biggest franchises and an audience eager to turn the slightest hint into confirmation of Part III. The games have sold tens of millions of copies, while HBO has introduced the series to an even wider audience.

And he has good reason to choose his words carefully. Back in 2021, comments from Druckmann and Part II co-writer Halley Gross about an outline for a post-Part II story were widely interpreted as evidence that Part III had already been outlined. Druckmann explicitly corrected that in Grounded II, explaining that it was actually the smaller, now-shelved Tommy story and was “never a full title.”

It’s little surprise, then, that Druckmann appears reluctant to promise exactly what comes next until Naughty Dog is ready to show it.

Online Axed

Naughty Dog also spent years developing the standalone multiplayer title The Last of Us Online before cancelling it in 2023. The studio said supporting such an ambitious live-service game would have required putting all of its resources behind post-launch content for years, severely impacting its future single-player games.

Crucially, Naughty Dog didn’t suggest Online was cancelled because the game itself wasn’t working. At the time, it said its vision had become clearer, the gameplay was becoming more “refined and satisfying”, and the team remained enthusiastic about its direction. It also said the technology investments and lessons learned during development would carry into future projects.

That doesn’t mean Online itself is being revived, but Naughty Dog never ruled out multiplayer altogether. If it ever returns to the idea, whether through another multiplayer project or a Last of Us spin-off, years of work on Online may not have been wasted entirely.

So, What Might This All Mean?

The truth is, we still don’t know what these projects actually are. They could include the shelved Tommy story, another mainline game, something drawing on Naughty Dog’s abandoned multiplayer work, or something completely unexpected. And it is worth remembering that Druckmann said “projects”, not “games” adaptations, expansions or something outside gaming altogether are still very much on the table.

What has changed is how tangible the future of The Last of Us now feels. A year ago, Druckmann was talking about discussions, possibilities and being “in talks”. Now, there are “a couple projects in the works.” Whether those are the same ideas discussed in 2025 is unknown, but his language is undeniably more concrete.

There is also some precedent for The Last of Us succeeding in places fans weren’t initially convinced it belonged. When the HBO adaptation was first announced, there was plenty of scepticism around turning such a beloved game into television. Druckmann’s involvement helped give fans confidence that the story would be handled with care, and the result ultimately brought The Last of Us to an even wider audience.

So perhaps the most sensible answer for now is simply to keep an open mind. We don’t know whether Naughty Dog is preparing another game, revisiting an old idea or taking the franchise somewhere none of us has guessed yet.

What we can say with some certainty is that The Last of Us isn’t finished. After years of maybes, mixed messages and carefully worded hints, that alone makes whatever comes next very difficult not to get excited about.