There will be no “Part III”

I see a lot of people fantasizing about the next The Last of Us and calling it “Part III.”

That honestly makes me smile. I mean it’s cute that we’re all so attached to these characters, but let me tell you something: not just as a gamer, but as a writer: their story is done. This was a game that needed a “Part II” to close a narrative arc, a cycle. And that sequel came straight from the creators’ heart and soul.

Really, there is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, that would push Sony to spend hundreds of millions of dollars just to give us… ABBY as the protagonist. Zero. Ellie? Forget it. How much more do you want her to go through? Seriously guys, did we play the same game?

So yeah. The next game, in my opinion, won’t even be able to call itself “The Last of Us 2,” because that would confuse the shit out of people. My spider sense says it’ll be something like “The Last of Us: XYZ.” Yes, literally those letters. No I’m kidding, but really: it’ll have a subtitle.

The world-building they’ve created is massive and beautiful, and it can’t always be tied to Ellie… and now Abby. There’s a whole world to explore and a thousand potential stories to tell.

And I’m 100% sure a new game is coming. It’s one of Sony’s most profitable IPs, and I honestly don’t think they would’ve even made the TV show if they didn’t plan to milk that IP a little more (GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE 🐄)

But here’s the thing: at least for me, and I’m curious how many agree with me, there won’t be a “Part III” the way people imagine it.

What do you think?