The Last of Us community is buzzing with excitement after creator Neil Druckmann shared a nostalgic Instagram post that many interpret as a subtle hint toward The Last of Us Part 3.
Druckmann posted his original 2003 character sketches for what would eventually become Joel and Ellie, accompanied by a reflective caption. "Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America," he wrote. "Been a wild journey. Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead."
Fans immediately latched onto the phrase "few stops that remain," interpreting it as a clear indication that The Last of Us Part 3 is in the pipeline. Social media platforms like Instagram and Reddit exploded with reactions, with one enthusiast declaring, "That last line pretty much confirms Part 3," while another exclaimed, "Few... stops? Few stops? FEW STOPS?!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US."
While Druckmann has never officially confirmed a third installment, he has consistently left the door open for future chapters. Currently, Naughty Dog is immersed in other projects, including Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which Druckmann is directing, and another game led by Shaun Escayg, known for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Druckmann has previously described Intergalactic as the most "ambitious," "expansive," and "expensive" game the studio has ever undertaken, though no release date has been announced.
This isn't the first time Druckmann has teased a potential sequel. In Naughty Dog's Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2 documentary, he hinted at more to come, stating, "I've been thinking about 'is there a concept there?' [for a sequel] and for years I haven't been able to find that concept. But recently that's changed... it does feel like there's one more chapter to this story."
Fans are speculating that The Last of Us Part 3 might be a distant prospect, possibly arriving around 2035-2036, given the lengthy development cycles of modern games. As one Reddit user noted, "'Few stops' seems to be more about him as a director. With games taking 5-7+ years of development time, I could see him retiring as a game director in 10-15 years, so basically two projects."
For now, the anticipation continues to build, with Druckmann's words keeping hope alive for another chapter in the beloved saga.
