Is *The Last of Us 3* Really Happening? Rumors of Naughty Dog’s Three Projects Are Flooding the Internet

I took out my phone on the subway and saw this news, and it was quite the wake-up call. There are rumors again that Naughty Dog is simultaneously working on multiple projects, and they very likely include The Last of Us Part III and a new Uncharted. For a casual player like me, news like this feels like suddenly seeing a favorite show get renewed during a lunch break scroll—nice, but still enough to make you pause and leave a question mark.

First, here’s the core of what’s currently being reported. Last month, leaker Alir mentioned that Naughty Dog has more than one project in development. Most people believe the one at the front of the line is the already announced sci-fi new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Of the other two, one is believed to be The Last of Us Part III, while the other could be a new Uncharted.

What really gets people excited here is still the The Last of Us Part III angle. The leak even directly said, "As for the third game (yes, there is indeed a third one), we all know what it is. Now it’s just a matter of whether it can be completed smoothly." There’s a lot packed into that sentence, but it also leaves room for interpretation—it suggests the project may exist, but it’s still some distance away from being officially set in stone.

Another point is that this new Uncharted rumor is also very good at keeping people hooked. The leak hints that Nathan Drake will appear in it, but whether it’s a remake of the first game or a mainline sequel is still unclear. For many longtime players, it feels a bit like seeing an ex suddenly like your social media post—the sense of familiarity comes rushing back, but what the relationship actually means is hard to define.

That said, one reason this wave of rumors spread so quickly is also tied to Naughty Dog’s earlier comments. Studio president Neil Druckmann previously said that they wouldn’t force The Last of Us Part III just to keep up momentum, unless there was truly a new story worth telling. So if this rumor is true, then it’s more than just “having an idea”—it sounds more like the project has already entered a substantive stage of development.

Looking at the broader trend, there is indeed some basis for believing it. Since the The Last of Us TV series became a hit, the commercial value of the IP has been climbing steadily. TV boosts the games, and the games in turn drive more discussion—this kind of synergy is very common now. It’s like when a milk tea becomes wildly popular and even the branded cups suddenly turn into hot items. If The Last of Us Part III does end up becoming real, it will most likely be a major card in the PS5 era.

But from the perspective of an ordinary player, I’d still suggest not getting so excited that you start popping champagne early. Right now, everything is still just rumor. There’s been no official announcement, and a lot of key details remain unsettled, such as what form the new Uncharted will actually take, and how far along The Last of Us Part III really is. It’s fine to glance at this kind of news during your commute for a bit of fun, but if you start seriously looking forward to a release date, you’re only setting yourself up for frustration.

Personally, I think what Naughty Dog needs most right now isn’t “more projects,” but “every project being solid.” After all, this studio’s reputation has never been built on volume, but on delivering exceptional quality. If The Last of Us Part III really is coming, I’d much rather it be like a great series that takes a long time to return—taking it slow is fine, as long as it doesn’t turn into nothing more than a refill product riding on the IP name alone.