Naughty Dog has confirmed that two new The Last of Us projects are in early development, expanding the series canon beyond the two main games. The HBO adaptation ends with season 3 in 2027, and Neil Druckmann says the series continues across other projects.
The Last of Us franchise is moving past the story told in the two main games. On The Last of Us Day, series anniversary observed each September 26, Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann announced two new projects in early development that will expand the canon beyond The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II. No details were given. The announcement followed Druckmann's September 3, 2026 comments in a Washington Post feature, where he said his work on the series is not finished and several projects are underway, though he did not specify what they are.
Druckmann has framed the television side as ending. He described HBO's The Last of Us season 3, due in 2027, as the conclusion of the story told across the two games. That end does not mean the end of the series, he said. The comments come after Grounded II, the making-of documentary released with The Last of Us Part II Remastered, in which he said he had found a concept that could support another chapter.
Naughty Dog's current production slate takes priority. Druckmann said the studio is putting its effort into Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the sci-fi title announced at The Game Awards 2024, and called it the studio's most ambitious work. The full picture will be revealed in 2027, and there will be no major announcements during 2026.
Elsewhere, the canceled multiplayer mode Factions remains a reference point. Terminal War Games is developing Terminal War, a 4v4 tactical third-person shooter influenced by Factions. Set in an alternate post-World War III America, it emphasizes limited resources, stealth, and teamwork. HBO Max also expands into Japan on October 1 as an add-on inside Prime Video and Hulu Japan, carrying The Last of Us among launch titles.
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Oct 3
Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann announced in a message closing out The Last of Us Day that two new projects in The Last of Us series are in progress. Both are in very early stages, and no details can be shared yet. Druckmann said both projects will expand the series canon beyond The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II. He also addressed Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the studio's new sci-fi title announced at The Game Awards 2024. Druckmann said the team is pouring its effort into the game, called it Naughty Dog's most ambitious work, and said the full picture will be revealed in 2027. There will be no major announcements during 2026. The Last of Us Day is the series anniversary Naughty Dog marks each September 26.
Sep 4
Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us and head of Naughty Dog, said his work with the series is not finished and that several projects are currently in development. The statement appeared in a Washington Post feature published on September 3, 2026, about what makes strong video game writing, in which Druckmann was one of several writers interviewed. Druckmann described the HBO series season 3, due in 2027, as the conclusion of the story told across the two games. He then said that the end of the television adaptation does not mean the end of The Last of Us, adding that he is excited to discuss the ongoing projects when the time is right. He did not give any specifics about what those projects are. The comments follow Druckmann's earlier remarks in the making-of documentary Grounded II, released with The Last of Us Part II Remastered, in which he said he had recently found a concept that could support another chapter in the story. The sources note that Naughty Dog is also developing the new action-adventure game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, though neither the September State of Play broadcasts mentioned it.
Sep 1
Warner Bros. Discovery is bringing its HBO Max streaming service to Japan as add-on subscriptions inside two existing platforms. On September 1, Prime Video announced a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery that puts HBO Max inside the Prime Video app from October 1. Hulu Japan, owned by Nippon Television, announced the same day that it will launch a new brand, HBO Max on Hulu, also on October 1. The Prime Video offering has two plans: Standard at 1,000 yen per month with up to 1080p, and Premium at 1,400 yen per month with 4K UHD. At launch, subscribers can watch all seasons of House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, and Euphoria, along with films such as Barbie and One Battle After Another. Season 1 of the new HBO original Harry Potter series, titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is scheduled to premiere at Christmas. The Hulu Japan deal also includes exploring international distribution of Nippon Television and Hulu Japan content on HBO Max.
Jul 1
Independent studio Terminal War Games is developing a 4v4 tactical third-person shooter heavily influenced by the canceled The Last of Us multiplayer mode Factions. Set in an alternate post-World War III America, the game emphasizes limited resources, stealth, and teamwork over fast-paced movement and live-service mechanics. Creative director Alec Favale, a firefighter by day, discussed the project's design philosophy in an interview with Game Spark.