Naughty Dog has confirmed two early-stage projects expanding The Last of Us universe. Here's why that announcement does not yet amount to two games, a Part III reveal, or a release date.
The Last of Us Part III has not been officially announced as a game, and it has no confirmed release date as of October 15, 2026. What Naughty Dog did confirm is more precise: two projects are in very early development and will expand the series' canon beyond Part I and Part II.
Why the word “projects” matters
In a September 28 studio message, Neil Druckmann answered whether more stories were coming. His answer was yes, with two projects underway. He did not identify their format. A project could ultimately become a game, but the wording also leaves room for other storytelling media. Treating the announcement as “two new Last of Us games confirmed” skips the most important qualification.
That distinction matters to players who have waited for another playable chapter. In September 29–30 Reddit discussions, some hoped one project was Part III; others explicitly warned that the announcement never said either would be a game. These are identifiable fan reactions, not a poll of the entire community.
What is actually happening in 2027?
The same studio update promises a full reveal in 2027 for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Dog's separate science-fiction game. That is a reveal window, not a release date, and it is not a timetable for either Last of Us project. The two projects have no disclosed titles, formats, or launch windows.
Watch for three different announcements: what the projects are, whether either is playable, and whether Naughty Dog actually uses the name Part III. The series has a future on the drawing board; the controller-shaped part of that future remains an open question.
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