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The commercial and critical success of the first two instalments in the post-apocalyptic franchise has led to a consistent volume of speculation regarding a third entry. While developer Naughty Dog has not officially announced a third game, the majority of the fan base remains convinced that a final instalment is inevitable to resolve the narrative arcs of central characters. The ongoing discourse centres on the unresolved stories of Ellie and Abby, whose paths diverged in the conclusion of the second game without providing a definitive end to their respective journeys. Fans currently debate whether a potential sequel should serve as a conclusion to the existing cycle of revenge or introduce entirely new protagonists to the series.

The influence of the franchise has expanded beyond the gaming community following the release of the HBO television adaptation. This series brought the world of the games to a broader audience, many of whom explored the source material after watching the performances of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. According to reports from ScreenRant, this influx of new fans has intensified the demand for information about the series' future.

This surge in interest coincides with a period of relative silence from Naughty Dog, which is currently focusing its resources on a new intellectual property titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

What Will The Last Of Us Part 3 Be About?

The narrative structure of the previous games provides the basis for current theories regarding a third part. The first game focused on the relationship between Joel and Ellie, while the second installment shifted its perspective to follow Ellie and the new protagonist, Abby. This established pattern of shifting focus leads many to question if Ellie will remain the primary lead or if her role will be reduced. Some segments of the community suggest that the story could follow Abby and Lev, while others propose the introduction of brand-new characters who have only appeared briefly or have not yet been introduced to the setting.

Discussions on community platforms like r/thelastofus reflect a wide range of expectations and theories. One discussion thread involving over 200 participants examined whether the story should prioritize the existing leads or pivot to a new perspective. A prominent sentiment among participants is that the narrative direction of the second game was unpredictable, making it difficult to forecast the path of a potential third entry. I see the open ending of the second instalment as a deliberate choice to allow for individual player interpretation.

"I would’ve never predicted that Part 2 would be about what it was, so I’m just not going to try with a Part 3. My only prediction is that it would be nothing like I expect it to be."

— Anonymous Reddit User

"I need a Part 3 because Part 2 ended with a gut punch. I don't care about beginning or middle, but I want Ellie finally finding her happy ending. With or without Dina."

— Anonymous Reddit User

Hasn't Ellie Suffered Enough, or Will Ellie Be The Last Of Us 3's Main Character?

The possibility of Ellie returning as the protagonist remains a point of contention among those who follow The Last of Us Part 3 Rumours. Proponents of her return argue that she requires a sense of closure that the second game’s ending did not provide. The second instalment concluded with Ellie walking away from her farmhouse, leaving her future and her relationships with Dina and JJ ambiguous. This open-ended conclusion allows the audience to speculate on whether she returns to Jackson or seeks a new life elsewhere. Critics of her return suggest that the current ending serves as a fitting, albeit difficult, resolution to her arc and that further suffering would be unnecessary.

An alternative theory suggests a prequel starring Joel Miller. This concept focuses on the 20-year period following the death of his daughter, Sarah, and leading up to his meeting with Tess at the start of the first game. Fans have compared this potential structure to Red Dead Redemption 2, suggesting it could show Joel and his brother Tommy descending into the ruthless behavior that defined them before the events of the main series. Another suggestion involves a dual-timeline structure, similar to The Godfather Part II, featuring a younger Joel in one era and an older Ellie in another. However, some argue that a prequel is unnecessary because Joel’s ultimate fate and character development are already established. I think the transition to a different character perspective would require a significant shift in the series' narrative identity.

"First, Ellie not having a resolution at the end of Pt II is a good call. Not everything needs a happy ending. That was kinda the point of the whole game. Having said that, I think a Joel story after Sarah's death, to when we find him with Tess at the start of Pt 1. That would be a brutal game."

— Anonymous Reddit User

"They could definitely come up with a good Joel and Tommy story, showing Joel descending into the man we find at the start of Part 1, kinda like how in RDR2 we see Dutch devolving into madness, and it could end with Tommy leaving because his brother became unrecognizable."

— Anonymous Reddit User

"I don’t think everything needs a prequel. We already know where Joel ends up and all the major events that led him there. Prequels like Better Call Saul are great because they provide new character development on underdeveloped characters that expand the story. A 20-hour game where Joel just robs and murders people doesn’t seem like it’d have much room to tell any good character arc."

— Anonymous Reddit User

Who Will Be The Last Of Us Part 3's Main Character?

Speculation regarding the lead character has recently included Tommy Miller as a potential candidate. As Joel's brother and a prominent figure in both the games and the HBO series, Tommy has never been a playable protagonist. User MorseCode00 proposed that Tommy’s current state makes him a compelling subject for a new story. Following the events of the second game, Tommy is physically and emotionally damaged, suffering from impaired vision, a limp, and the loss of his marriage to Maria. MorseCode00 argues that Tommy’s story remains untapped and offers a unique perspective on the world.

"He's a broken man. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically. His injuries from Abby left him with impaired vision and a limp; he lost Maria, cut ties with Ellie, he has no one...We’ve played as Joel, Ellie, and even Abby, but Tommy’s story is still untapped."

— MorseCode00

This suggestion has drawn mixed responses. While some fans find the idea of playing as Tommy in specific sections or sniping missions appealing, the consensus remains that the franchise is fundamentally Ellie's story. Many participants in the debate state that a third installment would feel incomplete without her presence as the lead. They argue that the series has documented her growth from a teenager to a young adult, and her narrative journey is the core of the experience.

"It would be cool to play as Tommy in sections, making a sniping mission to cover someone or a flashback. But I don't think a whole game should be built around him. Ellie is a better protagonist."

— Anonymous Reddit User

"Why? The Last of Us has always been Ellie's story. We just haven't always played as her, and she shared it with Abby in Part 2. In Part 1, it was still her story, just from Joel's perspective. Part 3 must have Ellie as the protagonist."

— Anonymous Reddit User

Naughty Dog has not provided updates on the franchise while it develops its new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Neil Druckmann previously indicated that the studio was not currently working on a third game, leaving the timeline for any potential return to the world of The Last of Us uncertain. For the present time, the future of Ellie, Abby, and the rest of the cast remains defined by the ambiguous endings of the previous titles.

Read also, an early multiplayer mod has been developed for the PC version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, allowing two players to interact within the same game world. This modification addresses the absence of an official multiplayer mode following the cancellation of the Factions project and has successfully demonstrated functional cooperative play through limited footage.