Naughty Dog Teases Two New Last of Us Projects Expanding Canon Beyond Part II

Two new Last of Us projects will expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II
Naughty Dog's leadership confirmed the studio is developing multiple new entries in the franchise, with full details arriving in 2027.
Mark

So Naughty Dog is making two new Last of Us games. Are they sequels to Part II, or something else?

Mimi

They're not sequels in the traditional sense. The studio said they'll expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II—which suggests they're exploring different corners of the world, maybe different characters or time periods.

Luke

But we don't actually know that. "Expand the canon" could mean anything. It could be a prequel, a side story, a spinoff. The studio hasn't said.

Mark

When will we actually find out what they are?

Mimi

2027. That's when Naughty Dog plans to fully reveal both projects, along with their Intergalactic game.

Luke

That's a long wait. And it's worth noting—we don't know if these are full games or smaller experiences. We don't know what platforms they're on. We don't even know if they're both games, or if one might be something else entirely.

Mark

Why would Naughty Dog tease them now if they're not ready to talk about them?

Mimi

It's a signal. It tells players and investors that the studio is thinking long-term about The Last of Us, that there's more coming. It keeps the franchise in the conversation.

Luke

It also manages expectations. By saying "2027," they're buying themselves time. If they'd said "2026," people would be disappointed when nothing arrived.

Mark

Does this mean the TV show is connected to these games?

Mimi

That's not clear. The HBO series is its own thing, but it exists in the same universe. Whether these new games tie into the show or ignore it entirely—we don't know yet.

Luke

And that's the honest answer: we have a tease, not a story. We'll have a real story in 2027.

  • Six years after The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog has broken its silence on the franchise's gaming future — not with answers, but with a deliberate, carefully managed tease.
  • Two new projects are in development, both expanding the canon beyond Ellie's story, yet the studio has revealed nothing about platforms, format, or scope — leaving the industry to speculate for at least another year.
  • By clustering these reveals alongside the 2027 Intergalactic announcement, Naughty Dog is orchestrating a single, unified moment of disclosure rather than fragmenting its messaging across multiple windows.
  • The move signals that Naughty Dog sees The Last of Us as a world capable of holding many stories, not a single arc — a franchise philosophy, not just a sequel strategy.

In the long tradition of storytellers who know when to speak and when to stay silent, Naughty Dog has signaled that the world of The Last of Us is not finished — only resting. The studio has confirmed two new projects set within that universe, each meant to carry the franchise's narrative into unexplored terrain, with full details promised for 2027. It is the kind of announcement that says less about what is coming than about a studio's belief that what it has built still has more to offer the people who love it.

Naughty Dog has confirmed it is developing two new projects set within The Last of Us universe, each intended to push the franchise's narrative into territory the existing games have not explored. The announcement arrived as a tease rather than a full reveal — the kind of signal a major studio sends when it wants to mark its intentions without committing to specifics.

Neither project has been described in detail. Naughty Dog's leadership has indicated that 2027 will be the year for comprehensive information on both expansions, alongside a full reveal of Intergalactic, the studio's separate science-fiction title. The clustering of these announcements points to a deliberate strategy: one moment of clarity rather than a series of fragmented disclosures.

The timing carries weight. The Last of Us Part II arrived in 2020, and while the franchise has grown through HBO's television adaptation, the gaming side has been quiet on new entries. The decision to expand the canon — rather than continue Ellie's direct story — suggests Naughty Dog is treating The Last of Us as a world with multiple narratives worth telling.

What form these projects will take remains unknown. Full-scale games, smaller experiences, single-player campaigns, or something else entirely — all remain possible. By withholding those details and committing to a 2027 reveal, Naughty Dog is managing expectations while keeping its franchises in motion, essentially telling players: there are more stories here, and we will show you when we are ready.

Naughty Dog's leadership has confirmed that the studio is working on two separate projects set within The Last of Us universe, each designed to push the franchise's narrative into territory the existing games have not yet explored. The announcement came as a tease rather than a full reveal—the kind of signal a major studio sends when it wants to plant a flag without committing to specifics. Both projects will expand the canon beyond what players encountered in Part I and Part II, the two mainline entries that have defined the franchise so far.

The studio has not yet detailed what these projects will be, how they will play, or which platforms they will inhabit. Instead, Naughty Dog's leadership indicated that 2027 will be the year when the company provides comprehensive information about both The Last of Us expansions, alongside a full reveal of Intergalactic, the studio's separate science-fiction game that has been in development for some time. This clustering of announcements suggests a deliberate strategy: Naughty Dog is signaling its roadmap to players and investors without fragmenting its messaging across multiple announcement windows.

The timing is significant. The Last of Us Part II released in 2020, and while the franchise has expanded into television through HBO's adaptation, the gaming side has remained quiet on new entries. The announcement of two new projects indicates that Naughty Dog intends to keep the franchise alive in interactive form, even as the studio pursues other ambitious titles like Intergalactic. The decision to expand the canon rather than continue Ellie's direct story suggests the studio is thinking about The Last of Us as a world with multiple stories to tell, not a single narrative arc that must be followed to completion.

What remains unclear is the scope of these projects. They could be full-scale games comparable to the mainline entries, or they could be smaller, more focused experiences. They could arrive on PlayStation 5, or they could span multiple platforms. They could be single-player campaigns or something else entirely. Naughty Dog has chosen to withhold these details, which means players and industry observers will spend the next year speculating about what the studio has in mind.

The announcement also comes at a moment when major game studios are recalibrating their release schedules and development timelines. Delays have become routine, and the gap between announcement and delivery has widened across the industry. By teasing these projects now and committing to a 2027 reveal, Naughty Dog is managing expectations while maintaining momentum around its franchises. The studio is essentially saying: we have more Last of Us stories to tell, we are committed to this universe, and we will show you what we have built when we are ready.

Two new The Last of Us projects will expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II
— Naughty Dog leadership
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