The Last of Us franchise has been a juggernaut since Joel and Ellie first trudged across a ruined America in 2013. With over 17 million copies sold for the original and 10 million for Part II by early 2025, plus an HBO series pulling 8.2 million viewers for its premiere, it’s a cultural colossus. Naughty Dog’s tale of fungal despair and human grit redefined gaming, snagging a 95 Metacritic score for the first game and a divisive yet ambitious 93 for the sequel. But as Neil Druckmann, the studio’s creative head, hints in a March 2025 Variety interview that The Last of Us Part 3 might not happen—“don’t bet on there being more”—I’m not mourning. I’m relieved. And if you’ve followed this saga’s highs and lows, you might be too. After Part II’s gut-wrenching finale and Naughty Dog’s pivot to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a third chapter feels less like a necessity and more like a risk to a legacy that’s already found its footing. Here’s why letting go could be the best move—for the studio and for us.

Start with Part II’s ending. Ellie, broken by revenge, spares Abby and limps back to an empty farm, strumming a guitar she can barely play with missing fingers. It’s raw, open-ended, and final in a way that doesn’t beg for more. Sure, you can wonder where she’s headed—X posts like @TLOUFanatic’s “Ellie’s next step?” fuel that—but the game screams that her journey, the one we’ve tracked since Joel’s lie, is done. Druckmann himself said in the Grounded II doc that Part II could stand alone, a sentiment echoing on Steam forums: “It’s complete.” Part I left us hanging—did Ellie know the truth?—and Part II answered, splitting fans with Joel’s death and Abby’s arc. X still burns with “Joel deserved better,” but that divisiveness proves its point: it took risks, closed loops, and left us wrestling with it. A Part III risks undoing that closure, especially if it can’t justify dragging Ellie—or Abby—back into the fray.

A Third TLOU Game Would Fail To Push The Series Forward

There’s Not Much Else Naughty Dog Can Do With The Franchise

The first game’s ambiguity was its magic. Joel’s hospital massacre and “I swear” left us questioning morality, survival, and love. Part II doubled down, killing Joel early and forcing us into Abby’s boots—half the game as his killer. It’s Naughty Dog’s boldest swing, a 25-hour meditation on vengeance and redemption that hit 93 on Metacritic despite the backlash. Some X users, like @BG3Enjoyer, call it “a masterpiece”; others, per Reddit’s r/TheLastOfUs, still fume over its “forced empathy.” But that’s its strength—it didn’t play safe. A third game, though, feels like a tightrope. Druckmann’s floated a Part III concept since 2024’s Grounded II, hinting at “one more chapter,” but his latest “this could be it” vibe suggests doubt. Why revisit a story that’s already pushed its limits? X’s @RPGFanatic warns: “It’d need to top Part II’s shocks—good luck.”

Naughty Dog’s legacy isn’t just The Last of Us. From Crash Bandicoot’s bouncy chaos to Uncharted’s globe-trotting thrills, they’ve built a rep for fresh IPs that dazzle. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, teased at The Game Awards 2024, is their next leap—a sci-fi odyssey with a gunslinging heroine that’s got X buzzing (@NaughtyDogInfo: “New blood, new worlds”). One cinematic trailer’s out, showing a sleek ship and a vibe miles from cordyceps rot. It’s early, but it’s Naughty Dog unshackled—free to flex creativity that a Part III might stifle. Part II was their most ambitious title—25 hours, dual perspectives, a Seattle sprawl that dwarfed Part I’s linearity. Another sequel risks retreading old ground, especially after HBO’s Season 2 (April 2025) adapts that same tale. Why double-dip when Intergalactic could redefine them again?

The franchise’s sprawl is another red flag. Part I was a tight 15-hour gut punch; Part II ballooned, splitting fans with its length and Abby’s half. HBO’s Season 1 nailed the original’s beats, while Season 2—filming wrapped by March 10, 2025, per Variety—tackles Part II over multiple seasons. A Tommy spin-off’s rumored (X’s @NaughtyDogInfo), and Part I’s $70 PS5 remake sparked “cash grab” gripes. This isn’t a lean tale anymore—it’s a beast, lumbering under its own weight. Part III could bloat it further, especially if it leans on Ellie or Abby again. Druckmann’s Variety chat hints at fatigue: “We’re moving past TLOU in general.” A standalone like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy—Chloe and Nadine’s 10-hour romp—could work (Abby and Lev, maybe?), but Part II’s closure makes even that feel redundant.

Part 2’s Ending Shouldn’t Be Messed With

The Series Has Been Left Intentionally Open-Ended

Risk’s the real kicker. Part I took a chance on a grim, character-driven apocalypse—95 Metacritic, instant classic. Part II gambled bigger—Joel’s death, Abby’s arc—and paid off with awards (7 at The Game Awards 2020) but lost some fans. Part III would need to top that, and Naughty Dog’s not invincible. Uncharted 4 wrapped Nate’s story safe and sound; Part II went for broke and split the room. X’s @Okami13_ fears “they’d play it safe or overreach—either flops.” Intergalactic lets them swing fresh—no baggage, no expectations to please a fractured base. Part II’s 93 score came with a cost—Steam’s “Mostly Positive” tag hides the venom. Another divisive stab might tarnish the legacy more than preserve it.

Fans won’t agree. X’s @TLOUFanatic and Steam threads clamor for more—“This world’s too rich to ditch!” HBO’s success (Season 1’s 96% Rotten Tomatoes) and Part II’s slow-burn respect (more praise in 2025 than 2020) fuel that fire. Druckmann’s Grounded II tease—a Part III outline exists—keeps hope alive, and leaks (new characters, per ScreenRant) stoke it. But wanting more doesn’t mean needing it. Part II sold 10 million—not Part I’s 17—and its HBO arc might sate that thirst. Naughty Dog’s strength is invention, not iteration. Crash, Jak, Uncharted, TLOU—each a new spark. Intergalactic could be next; Part III risks being an echo.

Naughty Dog Thrives In Its Originality

Intergalactic Has Huge Creative Potential

I’ve loved this series—Joel’s gruff heart, Ellie’s fire, Abby’s wrenching turn. Part II’s farm scene still haunts me—Ellie alone, guitar trembling. But that’s enough. Druckmann’s “don’t bet on more” isn’t a cop-out; it’s a signal. Naughty Dog thrives on bold starts, not endless sequels. Intergalactic’s trailer—a lone figure, a vast cosmos—promises that. Part III could stumble, diluting what Part II fought to say: cycles end, even ugly ones. X debates rage (@BG3Enjoyer: “Let it rest”), but I’m with the glad camp. The Last of Us gave us two masterpieces—one safe, one wild. A third feels like tempting fate when the studio could soar elsewhere. Let Ellie fade into her sunset. Naughty Dog’s got new stars to chase—and I’m here for it.