Naughty Dog closed out The Last of Us Day 2026 with an announcement that the studio is actively developing two new projects within The Last of Us franchise. Studio head Neil Druckmann shared the news, confirming that both projects are in their very early stages and will expand the series' established canon beyond the events of The Last of Us Part I and Part II.
Druckmann stated that Naughty Dog would not return to the universe unless they had "something meaningful to say," expressing belief that these new stories are "worth telling." However, he remained tight-lipped about specific details regarding the nature of these projects, a common practice for the studio during early development.
This news comes after Naughty Dog's previous multiplayer The Last of Us game, which was in development for years before its eventual cancellation. The studio offered no guarantees that these new projects would see a public release.
Update on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
In addition to the work on The Last of Us, Naughty Dog also provided an update on its next original game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Druckmann indicated that the team is deeply focused on this title, describing it as the studio's "most ambitious game yet." The full reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is slated for 2027, suggesting no further information will be shared for the remainder of 2026. It is possible the game may appear in Sony's State of Play presentations in early 2027.