Game news The Last of Us 3: Here is THE question that PlayStation and Naughty Dog must answer!
Published on 17/12/2022 at 17:50
While rumors evoke the existence of The Last of Us 3, at the writing of JV, we asked ourselves a question: what could Naughty Dog tell in this possible new component? Well, believe it or not, there is an important question that deserves an answer! Explanations.
The Last of Us 3, pas mal d’indices
Decidedly, after a possible Uncharted 5, it is The Last of Us which would have the right to a third opus! It is the leaker “ViewerAnon” – notably known for having mentioned Crash Bandicoot 4 before everyone else – who pulls the rumor out of his hat on December 14. The game is therefore currently in “production” at Naughty Dog, creator and developer of the series, with “the” Neil Druckmann, co-president of the studio, creative director | author of the first two The Last of Us. As a reminder: it is a “post-apo” action-adventure license where we follow the adventures of Ellie and Joel.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of a possible Chapter Three. As early as June 2020, even before The Last of Us Part 2 was released, Neil Druckmann claimed on GQ thatsuch a project “could” see the light of day (just like a new license, at the time). Rebelote the following year, in April, at the microphone of the Script Apart podcast. “Halley Gross (co-writer of The Last of Us Part 2, editor’s note) and I have written the outline of a story that we are not in the process of developing, but which I hope will one day see the day. This story explores a bit of what happens after this game (The Last of Us Part 2, editor’s note)”. With the info from ViewerAnon, is it time to get down to business?
“Neil Druckmann says there’s been ‘quite a bit’ of internal discussion about The Last of Us Part 3, but highlighted the amount of work it takes to make a game like this a reality” – IGN, from the Script Apart podcast (April 2021).
The Last of Us (2013, PS3)
A Part 3, but to say what?
Before even knowing if the rumor is true, a question – legitimate – arises: from the point of view of the scenario, does The Last of Us frankly need a third part? To answer this, you have to rewind the events of the second and final episode. Without too much spoiler, at the end of The Last of Us Part 2, the character of Ellie goes to the end of her revenge (at least, in her own way). Eventually, after sacrificing almost everything she cares about, she returns home, her “mission” now accomplished. Like the whole story and conclusion of the first The Last of Us, the end of the second opus is bitter – a consequence of choice and unprecedented violence.
What can Naughty Dog say after that? We have our idea on the matter. First and foremost, what do you think The Last of Us is about? Ellie and Joel’s relationship? So, yes, okay. About Ellie’s quest for revenge? It is now settled! But, at the start, it was above all the famous virus du cordyceps, responsible for the zombie transformations, which is the origin of everything. Without him, no tragic scene at the start of the first The Last of Us, no global epidemic, no post-apocalyptic world. In particular, no Ellie immunized with the infection and therefore no quest to develop a vaccine, in the founding episode… All in all, the ultimate question that Naughty Dog could answer in the future is: how to stop the cordyceps virus for good?
The Last of Us Part 2 (2020, PS4) et les effets du cordyceps (2023, HBO)
Already some interesting theories
Frankly, that’s probably the only reason Ellie would go on an adventure again. As evidenced by the end of The Last of Us Part 2 – during a last flashback with Joel – the young woman is consumed by remorse. “I should have died in this hospital (to develop the vaccine)” she then blurted out to her adoptive father. “My life would have served some purpose… But you deprived me of it”! Joel replies that if he had a second chance, he would do the same thing. Ellie finally accepts his apology.
On Reddit, a fan imagines as follows: “that Ellie, after years of feeling guilty about her immunity, is again looking for the Fireflies (“resistant” group from The Last of Us which seeks to develop the vaccine, editor’s note) to try to create a cure once and for all”. But, after all, like in The Last of Us Part 2, why not imagine other characters main playables than Ellie? What maybe see Abby again, who shares the poster for the second part, or else develop a less dark and violent video game (the last episode seems to have exhausted everything on this side). Yes, the future will tell! For now, no announcement or confirmation from Naughty Dog and Sony. As a reminder, the studio is preparing The Last of Us Part 1 on PC and a large multi-project in the same universe.
About The Last of Us Part 2
