Summary
BecauseThe Last of Ushas only ever revolved around the story of Joel and Ellie’s connection there isn’t really anything to extrapolate from and predict for what a new game may behold. It seems like high time that Naughty Dog takes this as an opportunity to introduce new characters, and fortunately it could do so now by continuing Abby’s story in aPart 3if it wants to take a well-earned break from Ellie. That said,The Last of Ushasn’t abandoned Ellie before, and aLast of Usgame without her might feel incredibly different, perhaps to its detriment.
Naughty Dog is great at ending games in a place where a continuation is ambiguously proposed. Ellie could live out the rest of her days as a lonesome traveler having to suffer the consequences of her actions inPart 2, never to be seen or playable again in the franchise. However,The Last of Us Part 2left its conclusion open-ended enoughthat Ellie could still find some sort of redemption or closure in a third installment, and maybe even entangle with Abby again in a much different light. Either way, it seems inevitable that aLast of Us Part 3would feature Ellie, Abby, or both inseparably.
The Last of Us’ Chapter-Like ‘Parts’ Insinuate a Clear Direction
If the Next Last of Us is Part 3, Ellie or Abby are Sure to Be Reprised
On paper, the idea ofThe Last of Us’ games now being givenPartsubtitles suggests that they are connected.The Last of Us’ original game was retroactively titledPart 1for the remaketo make that cohesive withPart 2, and if the nextLast of Usgame is titledPart 3then it’s almost assured it will feature Ellie or Abby.
It wouldn’t make sense to call itPart 3and not have it connect toPart 1andPart 2at all, and until Ellie or Abby are given something definitive in their lives to have them settle down peacefully or die as gruesomely as Joel did, it will always be possible that they could return. Ellie could pursue Dina and try to reconnect with her, for example, andAbby and Lev could have an entirely new story to tellwherever they happen to end up.
It seems as if Naughty Dog endedPart 2with this in mind, keeping both protagonists’ stories open for interpretation and continuation if it ever wanted to pick them back up for a new game.
Spin-Offs Have All the Creative Leniency They Need in The Last of Us’ Franchise
Now, if a newLast of Usgame has any other sort of title, whether it’s a spin-off, half-sequel, or other concoction, there’s a greater chance that it will eschew from Ellie, Abby, and probably any known characters to instead divert attention to a new batch of people. If so, there’s as much likelihood that Naughty Dog will pursue spin-offs as it will pursue aPart 3.
Plus, doing so would allow Naughty Dog to stretch its legs with the IP and introduce a whole new cast for players to meet, hopefully in a completely separate part of the world whereThe Last of Us’ Cordyceps infectioncould take on a new monstrous form previously unseen or unheard of. There’s a chance that both endeavors are being cooked up at the same time, but it’ll be fairly clear nonetheless what directionThe Last of Uswill be taken when its next entries have their titles revealed.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
