The Last of Us Part 3 Will Surely Happen, Possibly Be Open World Too

The Last of Us series has been anticipating updates on a sequel to The Last of Us Part 2, but Naughty Dog has been quite quiet on this front. That silence has been broken, but perhaps not in the manner most of us would have hoped for. Whatever the logic behind it is, we may have to wait and see, although it may be related to Naughty Dog's other game in development.

Neil Druckmann recently discussed the future of The Last of Us, but it is not exactly what most fans were hoping to hear. Druckmann teased season two of The Last of Us in an interview with Variety, but when it comes to the games that started it all, The Last of Us Part 2 could very well be the end of the series.

When asked about the possibility of a third game, Druckmann responded, "I guess the only thing I would say is don't bet on there being more of Last of Us. This could be it." This will come as a disappointment to many gamers, especially since The Last of Us Part 2 ended on a massive cliffhanger. The fate of all the main characters is in the balance, even Ellie's. As season 2 of The Last of Us looms on the horizon, Druckmann's statements now cast a shadow over the series, leaving endless questions about whether or not these arguments will ever be answered.

We don't know what happened to Ellie and Abby following their dramatic confrontation in Santa Barbara, but there are some theories. As for Ellie, everyone wishes that she was walking off in Jackson's direction and returning to him, where Dina and JJ may be. Some speculate that she's off with the Fireflies by herself, and that's a darker outcome but a plot bummer nonetheless, something that The Last of Us is certainly not afraid to do.

They presumed Abby and Lev made it to Catalina Island intact, where there's supposed to be a Firefly outpost. But whether the radio call they picked up at Santa Barbara was a Firefly member or a Rattler trying to deceive them into a sense of security only to kidnap them is also a question. If there isn't going to be a Last of Us Part 3, then the fans might never find out if Catalina Island was truly a genuine spark of hope or not.

Ellie and Abby are only the tip of the iceberg, too. The fates of Tommy, Maria, Dina, and JJ have all been left hanging in the balance. Most troubling of all, there still aren't clear answers about Ellie's immunity or even if a cure can be made. Of course, the show explained her immunity, and that may well be where these questions will eventually be answered.

The other writer on Druckmann, Craig Mazin, has earlier claimed that The Last of Us Part 2 could have several seasons. If so, then it's possible that unanswered question marks in the story that are still left unanswered in the games could be resolved in the series. This would be highly controversial, but from Druckmann's response to Variety, it could be the only way of resolving plot threads.

At this point, no one knows how Druckmann is going to tackle the world he has built as post-apocalyptic. It's very possible that The Last of Us Part 3 will be an open-ended narrative. Fingers crossed until more is known that The Last of Us Part 3 still happens one day.