[Warning: Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2 below]
Even though The Last of Us: Part 2 just released, gamers are already wondering about the future of the franchise and if a third installment could be in the works. Although nothing official has been confirmed, The Last of Us: Part 2 provides the perfect opportunity for the franchise to be turned into a trilogy.
Even more, given that the sequel has been met with conflicted reviews from both critics and fans alike, it would be disappointing to see the franchise end with The Last of Us: Part 2. A third installment provides Naughty Dog with a chance to redeem the franchise, tie up loose ends, and give gamers the closure they want and deserve.
[Final Warning: Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2's ending below]
The Last of Us: Part 2 ends on a pretty low note. Ellie’s quest for revenge may be over, but it doesn’t seem complete given that she lost everything in the process only to pardon Abby’s life. As the game closes, the player realizes Ellie has now lost more than before she headed off to Seattle – she lost one of her close friends, ruined her relationship with Dina, and lost the chance to be a parent. And, of course, everything she did couldn’t bring Joel back.
How The Last Of Us: Part 2 Makes Room For TLOU3
Given that the game ends in such a dismal state, it gives Naughty Dog the perfect opportunity to pick up the story again should they choose to make a The Last of Us: Part 3. Players would expect a third installment to focus on what Ellie did at the close of the second game. Given that players would like to see familiar faces (as well as multiplayer) return, a third game would likely show Ellie attempting to find Dina and J.J. to make amends with them. If that were to be the plot line, it could set up another game for a whole slew of adventures. Depending on where Dina and her son relocated after leaving the farm, Ellie could have to travel around the U.S. searching for them, which would be reminiscent of the first game during her travels with Joel.
But it’s not just Ellie’s future that a third game could explore. Considering players spent half of The Last of Us: Part 2 playing as Abby, even after she so violently kills Joel, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume she’d be a playable character once again. After all, all the playable characters available in the first game were playable in the second, even for a brief amount of time, so there's a precedence for Abby's inclusion. Moreover, it would be interesting to see her story explored following her final encounter with Ellie. Abby’s whole adult life was focused on seeking revenge for her father, and now that this chapter is over, the world is her oyster. Perhaps Abby will or even lead a new faction, or she’ll try her hand at settling down to lead a quiet life. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume a third game would see Abby and Ellie’s paths intertwined again – maybe one will regret not killing the other when they had a chance.
Naughty Dog Hinted The Last Of Us: Part 3 Is Coming
It’s not just that The Last of Us: Part 2 gives the franchise the perfect setting to continue the story in a third game. Naughty Dog has also implied it is interested in making the game a trilogy. In an interview with VP of Naughty Dog, hinted at the future of the franchise. “As you start wrapping things up, creatively there are fewer and fewer responsibilities and my mind can’t help but think about the next thing,” he told the publication. “So, yeah, the next thing could be a Part III, the next thing could be some new IP." But given the six year wait fans had between The Last of Us: Part 2 and its predecessor, a third installment, should it ever be made, is likely still years away.
The Last of Us: Part 2 provides the perfect chance for Naughty Dog to create a third installment in the franchise, so hopefully they take the opportunity and run with it.
