Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us, recently took a trip down memory lane on social media. He showed a rough sketch of something almost unrecognizable, joined by a caption that revealed it was the original concept of The Last of Us. The drawing was scribbled in 2003, but it wouldn’t be until 2013 that The Last of Us emerged.
Beneath the image, Druckmann’s explanation suggested that there’s still some distance left in the road ahead for The Last of Us, widely considered one of the best post-apocalyptic universes ever created.
What’s Left for The Last of Us?
The Last of Us surfaced in 2013, landing on the PlayStation 3 and securing more awards than any other game around, a record that it held for some time. The generational release was joined seven years later by a follow-up, The Last of Us Part II, and sprinkled in were some re-releases and a short prequel dubbed ‘Left Behind’.
In January 2023, HBO released the first season of a live-action adaptation of The Last of Us, which also went on to win awards. It proved to be a divisive series, but it’s not yet done, and a third season is yet to drop, assumedly next year.
While Neil Druckmann has played coy with his audience over the years regarding another Last of Us title, the prospect has never been written off entirely. At present, Naughty Dog is working on Intergalactic: Heretic Prophecy, but in 2025, Druckmann confirmed that a ‘secret game’ is also underway at the studio.
This is what Druckmann said on Instagram:
Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America.
Been a wild journey. Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead.
(Thanks to DomTheBomb for the spot)
Fans were quick to jump on that statement. Many believe it’s just the remaining episodes of the television show, while some have joked that it’s another re-release. The fans of the franchise huffing a little hopium are praying for a reappearance of Factions, the multiplayer platform, or the canceled Last of Us extraction-themed game.
In truth, we’ve got no idea if Druckmann’s comment means anything too deep, but the truest fans of the series will never let go of their faith.
Do you think Naughty Dog is working on anything related to The Last of Us? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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