Naughty Dog Confirms Two New The Last of Us Projects — Part III Is Still Unconfirmed

Two new The Last of Us projects are in very early stages, Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann said in a September 28 update. Both will expand the franchise’s canon beyond Part I and Part II. He did not identify either project as The Last of Us Part III, a video game or an HBO production.

That is a meaningful confirmation that Naughty Dog plans more stories in this world. It is not a title announcement, a release plan or a reveal of the projects’ formats.

What Did Naughty Dog Announce?

Druckmann described “a couple” of projects in “very early stages” and said the studio could not yet discuss them in detail. His concrete promise is that both will expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II. Naughty Dog gave no names, images, trailers or production schedules for either one.

The wording leaves open several basic questions. It does not say whether the two projects are games, films, shows or something else. It does not identify their developers or creative teams. “Beyond Part I and Part II” describes an expansion of the official story, but it does not establish that both stories take place chronologically after Part II.

Does This Confirm The Last of Us Part III?

No. Naughty Dog did not call either project Part III. There is no announced sequel title, platform or release window. The studio may explain how the projects connect to the two mainline games later; assigning a number to one of them now would go further than its statement.

Druckmann’s reference to the earlier Grounded II documentary explains why fans have been asking about more stories, but an earlier possibility and today’s two-project update still do not amount to a formal Part III announcement. The distinction will remain important until Naughty Dog names a project.

Are the New Projects Games?

Not confirmed in the September 28 statement. Naughty Dog is a game studio, but Druckmann used the broader word “projects” for these The Last of Us stories. There are no platform, gameplay, genre or release details to attach to them. The official image above is the studio’s graphic for Druckmann’s update, not key art for either project.

The same Naughty Dog post discusses Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet separately. Unlike the two unnamed The Last of Us projects, Intergalactic is an announced PS5 game; Naughty Dog plans its full reveal in 2027.

How Does This Relate to HBO’s The Last of Us?

HBO’s adaptation is a separate, existing television production. Its Season 3 casting news does not identify either of Naughty Dog’s two new projects, and Druckmann’s statement does not tie them to that season. Treating a TV casting announcement as evidence for a new game story would mix two different announcements.

The next useful update is a name, format, first look or explicit explanation of how either project fits into the franchise. Until then, two canon-expanding projects are confirmed; Part III is not.