Naughty Dog has formally announced two new The Last Of Us projects that will 'expand the canon' beyond the first two games, according to studio head Neil Druckmann. In a blog post on the studio's website, Druckmann confirmed the studio's commitment to the new titles, while also ruling out any updates on its next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, for the rest of the year.
New projects to expand the canon
Druckmann's blog post follows his earlier tease earlier this month that the studio still has plans for more The Last Of Us, though he was not specific at the time. Now, he has formally committed to two new projects, stating that these will 'expand the canon of The Last Of Us beyond Part 1 and Part 2.' This suggests they are entirely new rather than another pair of remasters.
While Druckmann has previously discussed having a concept for a The Last Of Us Part 3, his phrasing here suggests neither project is a direct sequel. The wording is vague enough that one could be Part 3, but the way he talks about the projects is reminiscent of how Naughty Dog described the cancelled The Last Of Us Online game, which was not focused on Ellie or any established characters.
Early stages and future releases
Both projects are described as being in the early stages, meaning neither will see the light of day for many years, and likely will be PlayStation 6 games. They are expected to come out after Naughty Dog's next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which still lacks a release date nearly two years after its announcement at The Game Awards 2024.
Druckmann acknowledges this in the blog post, ruling out any updates for the rest of the year, meaning no new trailer at The Game Awards in December. However, he promises to 'fully reveal' the game at some point in 2027 with a 'proper look,' which should include a gameplay demonstration and a more detailed explanation of its story. Whether this means the game will be ready to launch that year is unknown.
Intergalactic details and cast
Druckmann also shared a new piece of concept art depicting an alien planet. Currently, all that's known about Intergalactic is that it's a sci-fi action game with an 80s theme, where you play as a bounty hunter portrayed by You actress Tati Gabrielle. This is her first video game role, though she has starred in game adaptations including the Mortal Kombat 2 movie, the Uncharted movie, and the Last Of Us show.
In Intergalactic, Gabrielle stars alongside Troy Baker, who played Joel in The Last Of Us games. Baker recently hyped up Gabrielle and the game during an appearance at Ottawa Comiccon in Ontario, Canada, which has been shared on YouTube. He described Gabrielle's character, Jordan, as 'the spiritual successor' of Ellie from The Last Of Us, telling fans 'You guys are going to have your minds blown.'
'There is so much about Jordan and that game of Intergalactic that feels like… man, I feel all of it. I feel Uncharted, I feel The Last Of Us, I feel something new. They are testing the bounds of what that studio is capable of. Everything that I've seen, they are delivering, and it's going to be incredible,' Baker said.
