Naughty Dog has confirmed that the world of The Last of Us is far from finished.

In a new update published for The Last of Us Day, studio head Neil Druckmann revealed that Naughty Dog has two new projects set in The Last of Us universe currently in very early development.

The announcement comes more than six years after the release of The Last of Us Part II and gives fans the clearest indication yet that the franchise will continue beyond the stories told in the first two games.

Naughty Dog Is Working on Two New Projects

Druckmann confirmed that the studio has been discussing new stories in the world of The Last of Us since the release of the Grounded II documentary.

According to Naughty Dog, the two projects are still in the very early stages of development, meaning there is currently very little information about what they are or when they could be released.

However, Druckmann did reveal one important detail: both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II.

That wording is particularly interesting because Naughty Dog has not described either project as The Last of Us Part III.

Is The Last of Us Part III Happening?

For now, Naughty Dog has not officially announced The Last of Us Part III.

The confirmation of two new projects means the franchise is expanding, but it does not establish that either project is a direct sequel to Part II.

They could potentially explore completely different characters, locations or periods within the universe.

Naughty Dog has previously emphasized that it would only return to the franchise if it had a meaningful story to tell. Druckmann repeated that idea in the latest announcement, saying the studio believes these stories are worth telling.

What Could the New Stories Be About?

At this point, Naughty Dog has not revealed the characters, settings or gameplay concepts for either project.

That leaves several possibilities open.

The studio could continue the stories of established characters, introduce a completely new group of survivors or explore another part of the post-apocalyptic world.

The wording about expanding the canon beyond the first two games also leaves room for stories that take place outside the events directly experienced by Ellie, Joel and Abby.

For now, any specific story details circulating online should be treated as speculation unless Naughty Dog confirms them.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Comes First

The announcement also comes with another important piece of information about Naughty Dog’s future.

The studio is currently focused heavily on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, its new science-fiction franchise announced in 2024.

Druckmann said the team is working toward what Naughty Dog considers its most ambitious game yet.

However, fans will have to wait a little longer for more information.

Naughty Dog confirmed that it will remain relatively quiet about Intergalactic for the rest of 2026. The studio plans to fully reveal the game and provide a much deeper look at protagonist Jordan A. Mun’s adventure in 2027.

This also suggests that the two new The Last of Us projects are likely to remain behind the scenes for some time.

The Last of Us Universe Is Getting Bigger

The confirmation is significant because The Last of Us has traditionally been centered around a relatively small number of major characters.

The first game introduced Joel and Ellie, while Part II expanded the story by introducing Abby and exploring multiple perspectives.

The new projects could allow Naughty Dog to explore parts of the world that have received little attention so far.

There is also the possibility of expanding the franchise without immediately returning to the same characters.

That could allow Naughty Dog to preserve the existing stories while introducing new perspectives on the world and its survivors.

What Happens Next?

For now, Naughty Dog is keeping details about both projects secret.

There are no announced release dates, platforms, trailers or confirmed characters.

The only confirmed information is that two new projects are in very early development and both will expand The Last of Us canon beyond Part I and Part II.

Meanwhile, Naughty Dog’s immediate focus remains Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which will receive a major new presentation in 2027.

For fans of The Last of Us, however, the message is clear: Naughty Dog isn’t finished with this universe yet.