Naughty Dog has confirmed it is not involved in the creative direction or production of the third season of HBO's The Last of Us show, which is set to be its final season and is expected in 2027 [1, 2, 3].
Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us and Naughty Dog’s vice president, said, "I wasn't involved in shaping this season's creative direction, and Naughty Dog did not have a creative role in the direction of this season. So I can't personally speak to how production is progressing" [2]. The upcoming season will focus on the character Abby's story from the second game [1, 3].
Despite stepping back from the show, Druckmann emphasized that Naughty Dog remains committed to the franchise, stating, "Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP and even though this might be the end of this adaptation, we're not done with The Last of Us" [1, 3]. He also revealed that multiple projects related to The Last of Us are currently in development, adding, "There's a couple projects in the works that, when the time is right, I'm very excited to talk about" [2].
However, Druckmann has not shared specific details about these future projects, including whether they include a direct sequel game such as The Last of Us Part 3 or new storylines within the universe [1, 2, 3].
Currently, Naughty Dog is focused on developing a new sci-fi action game titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet [1, 2, 3]. This pivot follows the cancellation of The Last of Us Online multiplayer game in 2023 after troubled development [1].
The third season of the HBO adaptation is scheduled for 2027 and will represent the final installment in the television series, centered on Abby’s narrative [1].
