Every Dangling Plot Thread Ahead of The Last of Us Part 3

Although it’s not officially announced, a third The Last of Us game is very likely. Neil Druckmann, who leads the franchise, has hinted at it multiple times, most recently on Instagram where he suggested there are still a few more chapters to tell in the story.

Major spoilers ahead for The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part 2

The Last of Us Part II sparked a lot of debate when it came out, but it’s clear players still want more games in the series. The ending, where Ellie appears to forgive Abby for killing Joel and tries to find peace, left things open-ended. A potential The Last of Us Part III would have a lot to explore, both in terms of Ellie’s journey and the wider world that Part II developed so thoroughly.

Abby and Lev’s Whereabouts

One of the biggest mysteries left unanswered at the end of The Last of Us Part II concerns Abby and Lev. We don’t know where they ended up, or if they successfully reached the Fireflies, and it’s unclear how their bond developed further. Given Abby’s significant role in Part 2, it would be surprising if her story wasn’t continued in Part 3.

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We’ll probably find out what’s happening with the Fireflies in The Last of Us 3 through the stories of Abby and Lev. The group fell apart after the ending of the first game, but rumors suggest they’re rebuilding on Catalina Island in California. This could mean The Last of Us 3 will show the Fireflies growing again, with Abby and Lev taking center stage.

Ellie and Dina’s Relationship

Throughout much of The Last of Us Part II, Dina was a crucial source of support for Ellie, especially after the loss of Joel. She joined Ellie on her difficult journey for revenge and often helped ground her, reminding her of her compassion when things got too intense. Sadly, the game ends with the couple separating, and Dina leaves with their daughter, abandoning the peaceful farm they had built together.

The final scene of Part 2 shows Ellie leaving, which could simply represent her moving forward with her life. However, it also hints that she might be going to find Dina. This makes sense because if Ellie overcomes her anger and resentment, it’s likely she’d try to reconcile with Dina, who is both her romantic partner and, by the end of Part 2, her closest companion.

Ellie and Dina’s farm is located relatively close to Jackson, so if they get back together, it might also mean revisiting the people in that settlement – particularly Tommy, who was clearly struggling the last time we encountered him.

Ellie’s Psychological State

It might not seem like a major loose end, but considering how much Part 2 focuses on Ellie’s emotional state, it’s worth mentioning. Throughout the game, Ellie clearly battles with trauma, anger, guilt, and grief, and it’s doubtful that her dramatic confrontation with Abby truly helped her heal.

While she might have gained some understanding through her quest for revenge, the cost was incredibly high. It involved a great deal of violence – she killed many people, possibly hundreds – and caused immense suffering, including torture and the loss of a dear friend. She was also severely injured, losing two fingers and permanently losing the ability to play guitar. These experiences are deeply damaging, not healing.

The War Between the WLF and the Scars

A potential The Last of Us 3 could focus on the fallout from the conflict between the Washington Liberation Front and the Seraphites (Scars), since both groups are located in Seattle. If the game returns to that city, it will need to show what happened after the Front attacked the Seraphites’ territory. The war between these two factions escalated greatly in Part 2, and it’s unlikely it would have ended cleanly or without significant consequences.

I’m really hoping the next game dives deeper into the Scars – we got a lot about the WLF in The Last of Us Part II, but the Scars felt a bit mysterious. If they age up Lev, that could be a great way to explore their culture and beliefs. It’d be cool to really understand what drives them and how they live.

The same could be true for the Rattlers, the group we meet at the end of The Last of Us Part II. Whether this holds true, though, will depend on where the story of The Last of Us Part III takes place.

The Cordyceps Cure

If The Last of Us 3 is going to really hit home, I think it has to deal with Ellie’s guilt and her wish that she could have been the one sacrificed for a cure. It would just feel right, you know? And it looks like they’re setting things up perfectly. We already know she felt that way, and now it seems like the Fireflies might be coming back – and get this, the surgeon’s daughter might be involved! It’s like all the pieces are there for a really powerful story.

The Fireflies likely have other surgeons who could perform the necessary operation, and saving humanity depends on it. Considering how much Ellie has been shaped by the harshness of this world, it would be poetic if she and Abby were the ones to ultimately stop the cycle of violence.

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2026-04-05 19:05