Though Naughty Dog has had something of a storied history over the course of so many decades in the games industry, it has slowly settled into an identity as “the studio behindThe Last of Us,” for better or worse. Indeed, even as the company moves forward with boldnew creative ventures likeIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, it still feels most defined by its post-apocalyptic duology, which is soon to be a proper trilogy.
Little is known about the nextLast of Usentry, other than that it is likely still quite far away. Series lead Neil Druckmann confirmed last year that the third chapter was in its pre-production stage, which may put its tentative release in the final months of the PS5’s life cycle. Alternatively, it could release during the early days of the PlayStation 6, perhaps even being a cross-platform release. This may not seem particularly significant, but it is interesting to note, especially when comparing this work-in-progress to its two predecessors, which have followed a similar release strategy.
The Last of Us 3 Could Be the PS5’s Swan Song, Just Like the First Two Games
The Last of Us Has Always Been a Generation-Straddling Franchise
It’s somewhat interesting that bothThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us Part 2were released in the final yearof their respective consoles' lifecycles. In the case of the first game, this allowed it to far surpass anything shown during that generation, at least on the graphical front, and this same technical innovation and boldness was reflected inPart 2. Released in 2020,TLOU2is perhaps the best-looking video game on the PS4, exemplifying its hardware capabilities while setting the stage for the next chapter of Sony’s console output.
With all that being said, perhapsThe Last of Us Part 3will continue this tradition, leveraging modern advancements in game design, both on the hardware and human ingenuity fronts, to be a truly astonishing technical achievement that says farewell to the PS5. This would be good news for the game, as it could learn from the successes and failures of previous PS5 releases, but it would also reinforce the notion of Naughty Dog being Sony’s crown jewel, putting even more pressure on it to succeed. Plus, ifThe Last of Us Part 3were to be yet another PlayStation console swan song, it would have to deliver on another set of expectations: it has to be a satisfying send-off for the device.
The Last of Us 2has been endlessly critiquedfor a number of reasons, but its position at the tail end of the PS4’s life may have served to elevate expectations in some ways, perhaps exacerbating the sense of disappointment many players had after playing it.
The Last of Us 3 Being the PS5’s Swan Song Would Solidify the Series' Importance
It can be argued thatUnchartedandThe Last of Uswere the one-two punch that put PlayStation back in the game after an underwhelming first half during the PS3 era. Naturally, the gaming megalith owes a lot to Naughty Dog, which has helped shape its brand identity over the course of the last decade, its design philosophies clearly bleeding into other first-party IP likeGod of WarandSpider-Man.
Punctuating the PS5’slegacy withThe Last of Us 3may seem only natural, then, as it would be a reminder of the inextricable connection that Naughty Dog’s seminal games have to Sony as a company. Of course, a lot of fans would probably like forTLOU3to hit the market sooner rather than later, but it being a send-off for the PS5 would be nothing if not consistent for the series.
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
EXPERIENCE ELLIE AND ABBY’S EMOTIONAL JOURNEYS, REMASTERED FOR PS5 Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure.
