The revelation comes from Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2, a documentary ed to the Naughty Dog YouTube channel. In his closing remarks, Druckmann acknowledges that the two games thus far have had self-contained messages, but a crucial through line to connect them. Up until recently, it would seem that a third TLOU game lacked a core tenet, but that aspect of the story has been ironed out, with Druckmann saying, "It does feel like there's probably one more chapter to this story."

There is not, however, any indication that actual writing for The Last of Us Part 3 has begun, meaning the project is likely a long ways off – if it ever actually happens. In fact, Naughty Dog appears to be currently occupied with an unannounced single-player game (via The Last of Us Online was canceled.

Everything We Know About The Last Of Us Part 3

Despite Druckmann's indication that work on a potential third The Last of Us game has only just begun (it's unclear when this part of the documentary was filmed), there have been rumors circulating about the game for some time. The most significant come from a The Last of Us Part 3 leak indicating there was a casting call for five prominent, brand-new characters. This group of scavengers would supposedly become embroiled in a power struggle, but how it is alleged to connect with the wider narrative of the first two games remains unclear. A follow-up to said leak did maintain that Ellie would return in TLOU 3, and her role would be just as prominent as it was in Part 2.

The validity of these details is uncertain, and leaks should always be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. What the leaks do not include is any mention of Abby and Lev's story continuing after the end of The Last of Us Part 2, which would presumably be of interest. In the documentary, Druckmann also mentioned that he has written a "small story" that takes place after TLOU 2 and stars Tommy, though he its that it has been shelved, at least for now. He believes that one day, the story about Tommy will be released, but in what form is unclear.

For now, The Last of Us Part 3 remains more or less unconfirmed, even if the series creator has an idea for its central theme. With the ever-increasing length of triple-A game development, it's also unlikely that it could be announced any time soon, especially with Naughty Dog reportedly at work on another unannounced title. Whether it's a new Uncharted, a return to a classic Naughty Dog series, or a new IP altogether, the acclaimed studio appears to have its hands full, and any ongoing work on The Last of Us Part 3 is likely the very earliest stages of pre-production.

Sources: Naughty Dog/YouTube, Shinobi602/X