Neil Druckmann discusses his approach to The Last of Us franchise and why he can’t guarantee a third game despite leaving the door open.
Neil Druckmann has mastered the art of the non-answer. The Naughty Dog co-president can talk for minutes without actually confirming or denying anything about The Last of Us Part 3, leaving fans to dissect his words like they’re searching for spores in a dark basement.
His latest comments at a red carpet event for HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 follow this tradition perfectly. When asked about the possibility of continuing the franchise, Druckmann once again left the door neither fully open nor completely closed.
The final boss of saying everything and nothing. | Image Credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons
It’s becoming something of a dance—he hints at possibilities while simultaneously telling fans not to get their hopes up. But reading between the lines reveals a creator who might not be quite ready to say goodbye to Joel and Ellie’s world just yet.
The “treat every project like your last” philosophy
⛶
⛶
⛶
⛶
⛶
⛶
Druckmann approaches game development with the intensity of someone who might never get another chance. It’s not just a work ethic—it’s his entire creative philosophy that shapes how The Last of Us stories are told.
Speaking with Etalk at the recent red carpet event, Druckmann explained:
You know, every game I make, every project I work on, I treat it like it could be my last. So, I just pour everything into it. I leave nothing on the table.
This mindset explains why both The Last of Us games, as well as Nathan Drake’s final adventure in Uncharted 4, wrap up so satisfyingly without any dangling threads. They weren’t designed as cliff-hangers or obvious sequel setups—they were crafted as potentially final statements. It’s a refreshing approach in an industry where franchises often prioritize sequel potential over satisfying conclusions.
When we did the first Last of Us game that’s how I treated it. I wasn’t sure I could ever get to make a sequel, so it had to have a definitive ending. Likewise, when I worked on Uncharted 4—same thing. When I worked on Last of Us 2 I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do this again!’ It had this definitive ending.
What’s fascinating is how this philosophy creates both standalone experiences and rich worlds that naturally invite further exploration. By not deliberately setting up sequels, Druckmann paradoxically creates universes that fans desperately want to revisit.
Why Druckmann’s “maybe” might actually mean something
New horizons don’t mean old journeys are complete. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTube
The most telling part of Neil Druckmann‘s statement isn’t what he confirms—it’s what he doesn’t deny. For a creator who could easily shut down The Last of Us Part 3 speculation entirely, he consistently leaves wiggle room:
For there to be another one, another thing, another project—so many stars have to align. I can’t guarantee it. So, right now, my focus is on this season, hopefully if HBO renews us, next season, and then I’m working on a new game called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Notice how he doesn’t say “We’re not making it” or “The story is finished.” Instead, he talks about “stars aligning”—suggesting that while difficult, a path forward exists. This is consistent with his February 2024 tease that there’s “probably one more chapter to this story.”
Meanwhile, HBO has yet to officially confirm a third season for the show, despite the critical acclaim of the first. This creates an interesting balancing act where Druckmann must divide his creative focus between the show’s continuing adaptation and potential new game chapters.
It’s a rare situation where both mediums could potentially advance the story in different directions or timelines.
What’s clear is that Druckmann’s current plate (or rather, “table”) is full of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and the HBO series. But his history shows that when he says “don’t count on it,” that doesn’t necessarily mean “it won’t happen.”
What do you think? Is Druckmann genuinely uncertain about The Last of Us Part 3, or is this just his way of managing expectations? Share your theories in the comments below!
