Why The Last Of Us Franchise Deserves More Than Just A Final Goodbye

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The Last of Us has grown into one of Sony’s most significant and lucrative franchises since its debut in 2013 with its revolutionary first game. This franchise, with its triumphant original title, has significantly influenced the direction of Sony’s exclusive titles moving forward. Its success story not only paved the way for a sequel but also brought about the development of a highly successful TV series, which is set to air its second season this year.

The success of the first two installments in the “The Last of Us” series has sparked curiosity about a possible third game. However, Neil Druckmann, director and co-creator of the series, has cautioned fans not to count on another game, hinting that it might be the end of the franchise as we know it. Yet, Sony might want to keep the franchise alive, given that there’s still a lot of potential for further exploration in its world, even if new games don’t follow the same characters.

Season 2 Shouldn’t Be The Last Of The Last Of Us

The Last Of Us’ World Has Plenty Of Room For Expansion

Although a third main installment of the The Last of Us series might not be immediately necessary, Naughty Dog could still breathe life into the franchise through spin-offs or stories set within the same universe. It’s possible that if another Last of Us Part were to emerge, it wouldn’t necessarily revolve around Ellie, whose story was largely concluded in Part 2. Instead, the following game could delve deeper into the world by introducing fresh characters and locales.

In essence, the recent media in the “The Last of Us” series has gone to great lengths to delve deeper into the game’s world and characters. A notable instance is the third episode of the TV show, which provided fans with a more profound exploration of Bill and Frank’s relationship than the games did. Although it’s unlikely that a new game would center around these two characters, given the series’ willingness to explore minor aspects of the franchise’s lore, a future title not necessarily a sequel could follow suit.

The Last Of Us Could Move Outside Its Home Country

One potential approach for a new installment in The Last of Us series could be to shift the setting entirely, exploring regions that haven’t been touched by the previous games. Given the vast and untouched areas across the United States, there are numerous possibilities for Neil Druckmann and his team to reveal how the zombie apocalypse impacted different parts of the country.

Naughty Dog could make a daring decision by setting their next game in a world beyond the United States, expanding the influence of the Cordyceps virus globally. In fact, the TV series has already hinted at this direction, with Episode 2 introducing a character from Jakarta, Indonesia who discovers the virus and contemplates bombing the city due to the lack of cure or vaccine. Since the game depicts a global pandemic but is focused on America, it would be intriguing for Naughty Dog to explore how the Cordyceps affects other countries as well.

Naughty Dog could take a more daring step by establishing a new game within a global context, allowing us to explore the spread of the Cordyceps virus on a broader scale, moving beyond the boundaries of the United States.

Sony Needs To Continue To Foster IP Like The Last Of Us

To add to the discussion, although frequent reboots or updates of “The Last of Us” might seem repetitive to some fans, it holds significance for Sony as a publisher. Intriguingly, Sony’s CFO Hiroki Totoki made an unusual statement suggesting that Sony lacks sufficient unique intellectual properties (IP) developed in-house. This comment may leave fans puzzled, but it’s worth noting that Sony typically restricts its IP to a specific console generation, which could lead to underutilization. By extending the lifespan of “The Last of Us,” Sony can address this issue partially.

It might be wise for Naughty Dog to step away from The Last of Us series briefly following the release of its second TV show season, considering their focus on their upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. However, there’s still potential for growth within the franchise with future titles that may not necessarily be The Last of Us Part 3.

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2025-03-08 04:38