The Last of Us Creator Teases More For the Franchise With Concept Art From 2003

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Neil Druckmann, the creative mind behind The Last of Us, recently shared some old concept art on Instagram, suggesting there could be future installments in the series. The artwork was created for a pitch he made way back in 2003.

The project would follow a man and a girl journeying across a ruined America, similar to the story in The Last of Us. What’s particularly interesting is the creator’s reference to the limited number of safe places left on their journey.

I was cleaning the garage and found my original game sketches from 2003. They were for a story about a man and his adopted daughter traveling across a ruined America. It’s been an incredible experience developing this idea, and I’m thankful for everything that’s happened – and for what’s still to come.”

Concept art isn’t as important these days. The designs for characters like Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us have changed significantly since 2003, largely because of improvements in gaming consoles. When Neil Druckmann talks about the future of the franchise, he might just mean the third season of the HBO show, which is coming in 2027. However, his use of the word “few” suggests there could be even more projects planned.

Although Neil Druckmann hasn’t said much about a third The Last of Us game, he mentioned in February 2024 that he had some initial ideas. He clarified that he only had a basic concept at the time, not a complete story. He also wondered if there was enough material to create a compelling third game, considering how the first two games ended.

Honestly, hearing him talk about potentially finishing with The Last of Us was bittersweet. He said if this was the end, it felt like a good place to leave things – like savoring the last bite of something delicious. But the coolest part? At Naughty Dog, they’re not forced to stop! They’re always open to new ideas and will support each other’s passions, even if it’s not another Last of Us game. He really emphasized how lucky they are to be in that position, and that he doesn’t take it for granted, which is awesome to hear.

I’ve been searching for a central idea for years, and I finally think I’ve found it. While I don’t have a complete narrative yet, this concept connects everything I’ve been working on – it’s really exciting and feels like a natural next step. It seems like there’s one more part of this story to tell.

Neil Druckmann is currently working on Naughty Dog’s upcoming game, Intergalactic. Though details have been scarce since it was first announced, Druckmann recently hinted that an actor from The Last of Us might appear in the new sci-fi title.

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2026-03-31 17:41