Well, this has saddened me greatly.

Having previously teased that The Last of Us Part III is likely on the way, franchise creator Neil Druckmann has now walked back his word.

If you’re a regular around these parts, you’ll know that The Last of Us is my everything so yes, I’ve been clamouring for an update on a third and final game pretty much ever since Part II was released.

For years, it was unclear what the future held for the franchise; Druckmann would dance around any sort of commitment when posed with questions about Part III.

Things changed though in early 2024.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered dropped and with that came the long-awaited Grounded II documentary, a look into the making of the game.

Towards the end of the documentary, Druckmann confirmed that after several years, he’d finally landed on the right concept for Part III, following the initial two games’ themes of love and justice.

“For years now, I haven’t been able to find that concept,” Druckmann said. “But recently, that’s changed, and I don’t have a story, but I do have that concept that to me is as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, is its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there’s probably one more chapter to this story.”

This is a far cry from the creator’s latest statement.

In a new interview with Variety ahead of The Last of Us’ second season arriving on HBO next month, Druckmann has warned video game fans that “this could be it”.

“I was waiting for this question,” Druckmann said. “I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of [The] Last of Us. This could be it.”

Fair to say, I don’t think that’s what any of us wanted to hear.

I’m going to remain hopeful though because he says “could” be it; not that it will be it.

Could Druckmann want to keep his interviews firmly focused on HBO’s The Last of Us and Naughty Dog’s upcoming Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet?

Does giving this answer keep the heat off his back?

“Bruh they left it on such a cliffhanger, it begs for a Part III. Kind of salty about this tbh,” SlyCooper007 wrote on Reddit.

“Not sure I believe this at all. There’s still a story to tell about Ellie’s immunity and how it plays out,” johnjaymjr wrote, which is exactly what I’m thinking.

Ellie has time to ponder her immunity now, and with Part II’s end menu screen confirming Abby found the fireflies, that feels like a thread that’s purposefully been left open.

I can’t imagine that Naughty Dog or Druckmann aren’t going to want to chase the ‘perfect’ trilogy. Part I and Part II are already so acclaimed that surely the temptation must be there to close the door with one final bang.