Naughty Dog, the developer behindThe Last of Us, is reportedly working on an additional game alongsideIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, but it isn’t a third game inThe Last of Usseries. According to a known gaming industry insider, it’s being directed by a key member of the PlayStation-owned studio and it’s been in the works for three years.
DanielRPK made the claim on his paywalledPatreonaccount (viaThe Game Post). The report saying that it isn’tThe Last of Us Part 3wouldn’t be surprising if true, asTLOUdirector Neil Druckmann previouslyimplied that the studio isn’t working on such a titleand went so far as to tell fans thatThe Last of Us Part 2"could be it" for Ellie. Druckmann later amended his comments (viaGameSpot), clarifying that he treats “every game like it’s his last.” Regardless, the report should be taken with a grain of salt, as Naughty Dog has not mentioned any plans for the future outside the release ofIntergalactic, which may not release until at least a couple of years.
The Lost Legacy Director Is Working On Unannounced Game, It’s Claimed
Could The Mystery Game Be Another Installment In The Uncharted Saga?
According to DanielRPK, the project is being directed by Shaun Escayg, who helmed the release ofUncharted: The Lost Legacy. Escayg also worked onMarvel’s Avengersduring his brief stint at Crystal Dynamics. Given Escayg’s work on theUnchartedseries, it’s possible that Naughty Dog’s mystery project is centered around that universe. The future ofUnchartedis unclear, and withThe Lost Legacyappearing to close the book on Chloe and Nadine’s story while also excluding Nathan Drake, subsequent games may introduce an entirely new character to the franchise.
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In the meantime, Naughty Dog has its hands full with the upcoming release of Season 2 ofThe Last of Uson HBO and its work onIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.Intergalacticisreportedly slated for a post-2026 release, though Naughty Dog has teased players with some minimal content, including a specialskin for Ellie inThe Last of Us Part 2’sPC versionrelease.
Our Take: Naughty Dog Infamously Takes Its Time With Its Blockbuster Games
The Developer Does Not Rush Game Production
Naughty Dog has no problem making players wait for their games:The Last of Us Part 2took over five years to developand dealt with significant delays during its creation. If this mystery project is real, it’s not surprising that Naughty Dog has not provided any information on it, as it may very well be another three years before the game is released.
Despite long production times, Naughty Dog has managed to create several franchises that have shaped the future of the gaming world, even reaching audiences outside of it in the case ofUnchartedandThe Last of Us, with the former releasing as a movie starring Tom Holland as Nathan Drake.Naughty Dog’s continued success proves that taking the time to develop and perfect content is worth it, so if there is indeed a new game on the horizon, we’re more than willing to wait for it.
