Naughty Dog is developing new stories in the The Last of Us universe. Studio head Neil Druckmann says two projects are in very early development and aim to expand the canon beyond The Last of Us Part I and Part II.
Naughty Dog has not yet disclosed the nature of these projects, so it is unclear whether one of them is The Last of Us Part III. The studio also announced that it will not showcase the science-fiction title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for the rest of 2026; the full reveal is scheduled for 2027.
Two new The Last of Us projects are officially in the works
The announcement came during this year’s The Last of Us Day. Druckmann explained that, since the release of the documentary *Grounded II*, Naughty Dog has repeatedly discussed new stories set in the franchise’s universe.
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He added that two new projects are now in development, though both remain in very early stages. For that reason, the studio is not yet revealing titles, platforms, release windows, or other details. According to Druckmann, the only certainty is that both projects will expand the series’ canon beyond the events of Part I and Part II.
Is one of them The Last of Us Part III?
That phrasing is sure to ignite fresh speculation about *The Last of Us Part III*. A third main entry has not been officially announced, but Druckmann has said there is a concept in place.
The latest update at least confirms that Naughty Dog is actively developing new stories in the franchise. Whether one of these projects is The Last of Us Part III remains unclear. Naughty Dog continues to refer only to “projects,” leaving room for a spin-off, a smaller production, or a different medium.
A spin-off is also possible.
The universe of The Last of Us now features numerous characters and time periods that could be explored outside the two main games. A new project would therefore not necessarily have to directly continue the story of Ellie and Abby. Especially after the planned The Last of Us Online was canceled, Naughty Dog is likely to pay very close attention to which projects within the franchise make sense in the long term.
The studio canceled the major multiplayer project in late 2023 because supporting a live-service game would have tied up significant resources. After that, Intergalactic took center stage.
Naughty Dog deliberately mentions two projects.
What’s particularly interesting is that Druckmann explicitly mentions multiple projects. This suggests that Naughty Dog doesn’t simply want to let the *The Last of Us* franchise lie dormant. Not long ago, the future of the game series was much less clear.
Druckmann has repeatedly emphasized that another installment will happen only if the team finds a story that truly justifies a sequel, and he is reiterating that stance. According to Naughty Dog, the studio will not return to the universe unless the team believes it can tell a meaningful story.
Intergalactic Remains the Studio’s Top Priority
Despite these new The Last of Us projects, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remains the studio’s highest priority. Druckmann again calls the science-fiction adventure the most ambitious project Naughty Dog has ever developed.
The team is working intensively on it, and the game’s various components are coming together. Fans will still need patience, however: Naughty Dog has explicitly stated that it will not release any major new information about Intergalactic for the remainder of 2026.
A full reveal is not planned until 2027.
That will change in 2027, when Naughty Dog plans to fully unveil Intergalactic and give fans their first real look at the adventure of the main character, Jordan.
This also makes it clear that a major presentation at The Game Awards 2026 is apparently not planned. 
The studio wants to give the project a little more development time before showing extensive gameplay. This decision should prevent the presentation of very early footage again, which is likely to change significantly before release.
Performance capture has already been completed.
At the same time, Intergalactic has already passed a key milestone: the team finished principal performance capture in August. That does not signal an imminent launch, however, as animators, designers, and engineers still have extensive work on animations, gameplay systems, level layout, technology, and polishing.
Previous Naughty Dog projects have had many months between key motion-capture completion and launch, so a 2027 release remains possible, though still unconfirmed.
Intergalactic is set to be Naughty Dog’s biggest game
Druckmann has said Intergalactic will be bigger than past Naughty Dog projects in several ways. It blends science fiction with the studio’s signature character-driven, cinematic storytelling while aiming for far more ambitious gameplay systems.
The studio calls this effort the next step in its evolution from *Uncharted* to *The Last of Us*. *Uncharted* focused on action and linear storytelling, while *The Last of Us* added open areas and role-playing elements. *Intergalactic* will push further in that direction.
Naughty Dog is once again working on multiple projects simultaneously
Recent statements also confirm that Naughty Dog is once again developing multiple projects in parallel. In addition to Intergalactic, at least two new The Last of Us projects are in early development. This shift is likely to reshape the studio’s structure over time. In the past, Naughty Dog often focused intensely on single major productions.
Development of the canceled multiplayer title had stretched those resources, so the studio is now returning to multiple creative teams.
For The Last of Us fans, this marks the start of a new phase
After years of uncertainty, one thing is clear: The Last of Us brand is far from over at Naughty Dog. Two new projects are already in the works and are intended to expand the story and canon beyond the two main games released so far. How large these projects will be—and whether The Last of Us Part III is actually among them—remains to be seen for now.
More concrete details will probably take a while, since both productions are still in the early stages of development. Intergalactic, however, should resurface much sooner. Naughty Dog plans to present its new science-fiction adventure in detail in 2027. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
