Sony developer Naughty Dog's next project might be The Last of Us Part 3 - or a brand new IP altogether - the company has revealed in a recent interview. The first title in the Last of Us franchise was released back in 2013 for the PS3, with a sequel releasing next week on the PS4.
The Last of Us is one of the most widely acclaimed and highest-selling PlayStation exclusives, and the upcoming sequel is already breaking records. Going in an even more mature route, The Last Of Us Part 2 was banned in the Middle East for its high emphasis on violence. Early previews of the game have suggested that the game not only pushes the boundaries of the franchise's narrative, but it also sets a new bar for graphic brutality, as well. Naughty Dog is aiming to make the game their most accessible game ever, with a wide array of accessibility options to ensure that none of the players face any kind of hindrances in the game.
In a recent interview with GQ, Naughty Dog Creative Director Neil Druckmann revealed that the next project his team will be working on could be The Last of Us Part 3 or a brand new IP entirely. He reveals that they've enjoyed has been a reduction in creative responsibilities as the release date of The Last of Us Part 2 draws closer, further pushing him to think about the next project they should undertake. Speaking on The Last of Us Part 2, he said that many players expected them to diversify the franchise in the sequel, or focus on new characters, but he thinks such practices are a "coward’s way out.” Therefore, they decided to take things with the series by dismantling the first title's "sacred ending."
Druckmann placed a lot of emphasis on the HBO TV adaptation of The Last of Us, which is being produced in collaboration with some of the people behind the critically acclaimed show, Chernobyl. He thinks that the show will help them properly portray the characters, as well as allows fans witness their many different aspects into which the game may not have deeply delved. The TV show is all set to begin production once The Last of Us Part 2 releases.
Naughty Dog has been one of Sony's finest first-party studios, and it would make sense that they might want want to take one of their most successful franchises forward. Naughty Dog is known to deliver enthralling storytelling experiences, and their past franchises, like Uncharted, all culminated almost perfectly, so the same is obviously expected from The Last of Us. If there is another title in The Last of Us franchise, it will most likely build upon the unanswered questions that will surely be raised in the franchise's forthcoming second act. With the sequel just a few days away from launch, it shouldn't be long before the hype for the next title starts picking up steam.
Source: GQ