The Last of Us 3: An Unforgettable Release Date is on the Horizon!

After achieving tremendous success in 2013 with the release of their post-apocalyptic survival horror game, The Last of Us, Naughty Dog seems destined to continue the series with a third installment. With the recent popularity of The Last of Us HBO TV show, the fanbase is growing, making the anticipation for The Last of Us 3 even higher. However, the development team at Naughty Dog is currently occupied with their announcement of an original IP and ongoing work on their troubled The Last of Us multiplayer project. This leaves us uncertain about the release date for the third game in the series.

Nevertheless, by analyzing the industry and past release schedules, we can intelligently speculate on when The Last of Us 3 might eventually make its debut. One crucial aspect to consider is how the previous games in the franchise aligned with the state of gaming hardware during their respective releases.

The Last of Us - Capping Off a Console Generation

The Last of Us, originally released exclusively for PlayStation 3 in 2013, set a new benchmark for storytelling and technical capabilities in video games. It served as an impressive finale for the PS3, paving the way for its successor, the PlayStation 4. Despite the imminent arrival of the next generation of consoles and the anticipation surrounding new games, The Last of Us still managed to captivate players with its aging hardware.

Fast forward seven years, and history repeated itself with the release of The Last of Us 2. As the PS4 entered its final stages and the PS5 prepared for its launch in late 2020, Naughty Dog once again delivered another outstanding installment in the series, featuring Joel and Ellie. Pushing the limits of the PS4, The Last of Us 2 achieved feats that were previously thought impossible, even when compared to highly acclaimed titles like Marvel's Spider-Man and God of War. Naughty Dog raised the bar and surpassed their own previous achievements, contributing to the success of the second consecutive PlayStation console.

Lining Up The Last of Us 3 With The Launch of PS6

The current generation of gaming, represented by the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, has been in full swing for nearly three years now. Typically, gaming life cycles last around seven years, but due to the chip shortage and the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the production of these newer platforms has been affected. As a result, there is a possibility that the life cycle of this generation may be slightly extended to make the most out of the current technology. In fact, rumors suggest that the release of the PS6 may not occur until 2028, which means that the current consoles still have a significant amount of time left in the market.

This extended console life cycle presents Naughty Dog with ample time to develop another thrilling adventure in The Last of Us universe. Neil Druckmann, the creative director at Naughty Dog, has revealed that he has already written a draft for The Last of Us 3. This indicates that discussions for a potential third game are underway at the studio. It's worth noting that both The Last of Us and its sequel were massive undertakings for Naughty Dog, taking several years to develop. However, considering that there was a seven-year gap between the release of the first and second game, it seems plausible that the third installment could be launched in 2027 or 2028, right around the end of the PS5's lifespan, aligning with previous release patterns in the franchise.

The Last of Us games are exceptional in their own way, serving as showcases for Naughty Dog's mastery of a console generation. Placed at the end of a console's life, Naughty Dog has learned the intricacies and nuances of the platform, enabling them to create another visually impressive adventure for players. Although The Last of Us 3 has not been officially confirmed, it could potentially be released before the launch of the PS6.