Naughty Dog’s recent comments suggest the Last of Us video game series might be concluding. Read on to learn about the future of The Last of Us and Naughty Dog’s current projects.

The Last of Us: No More Sequels?

Naughty Dog's Statement

It appears The Last of Us Part II may be the final installment in the acclaimed post-apocalyptic zombie series. In a March 5, 2025 interview with Variety, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann hinted at the possibility of no further Last of Us games, stating, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it." This statement casts doubt on the future of the franchise, as Naughty Dog shifts its focus towards the TV series.

Druckmann previously elaborated on his approach to sequels during a DICE Summit 2025 interview with IGN, explaining he avoids preemptively planning sequels: "I think you're jinxing yourself if you're starting to think about the sequel when you're working on the first game. So when I was making The Last of Us Part II, yeah, sure. Every once in a while an idea pops in your head of where it might go if we get the chance to do another one. But I just approach it as, ‘what if I never get to do another one?’...I'm not saving some idea for the future. If there's a cool idea, I'm doing my best to get it into here."

This suggests that The Last of Us Part II’s relatively conclusive ending might mark the end of the video game series. However, fans can still anticipate the upcoming second season of The Last of Us TV series, premiering April 13, 2025.

A New Intellectual Property

While the future of The Last of Us games remains uncertain, Naughty Dog is actively developing a new intellectual property. At The Game Awards 2024, they announced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for PlayStation 5, a sci-fi title teased with a short trailer. According to the game's official website, development began in 2020, promising a unique and ambitious narrative. Further details about the game are currently unavailable.

The Cancellation of The Last of Us Online

The cancellation of The Last of Us Online paved the way for Intergalactic. In a February 19, 2025 interview with the Sacred Symbols+ podcast, former Sony Interactive Entertainment President Shuhei Yoshida revealed that the online project was scrapped to prioritize Intergalactic. He cited advice from Bungie, the creators of Destiny, emphasizing the substantial commitment required for maintaining live-service games over an extended period. Yoshida stated, "The idea for The Last of Us Online came from Naughty Dog and they really wanted to make it. But Bungie explained what it takes to make live-service games, and Naughty Dog realized, 'Oops, we can't do that! If we do it, we can't make Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. So that was a lack of foresight."

Druckmann’s comments, coupled with the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, strongly suggest Naughty Dog's current focus lies elsewhere, leaving the future of the Last of Us video game franchise uncertain. Fans can, however, look forward to The Last of Us Part II Remastered launching for PC on April 3, 2025. For the latest updates on The Last of Us Part II Remastered, check out our related article!