Highlights

  • The Last of Us 3 faces a crucial decision in deciding whether to continue the franchise or provide a satisfying conclusion.
  • Continuing the franchise could lead to further exploration of factions and lore while ending it could prevent the narrative from overstaying its welcome.
  • Ellie's role as the core of The Last of Us series raises questions about the future without Joel and the need for a worthy successor if the franchise continues.

The Last of Us has made some huge waves in not only gaming but the entertainment world in general. Since The Last of Us launched in 2013, the franchise has now become a bit of a phenomenon with its hit live-action HBO adaptation.

However, the series is currently at an important crossroads. The Last of Us 2 made some major decisions that ultimately led Ellie to an uncertain future, leaving a third game with a lot of ground to cover. There were no clear answers given about Ellie, Abby, Tommy, or even Dina's ultimate fate, and The Last of Us 3 can decide if it wants to repeat this open-ended conclusion or if it wants to wrap up Ellie's story once and for all.

ellie jj and dina in the last of us 2
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The Last of Us 3 Has a Major Decision to Make

There were seven long years between the release of The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2 and the wait for a third chapter will likely be similar. If The Last of Us 3 becomes a reality, then the game has to decide whether the franchise should continue or not. Both avenues have their pros and cons, but The Last of Us 3 will be the deciding factor.

Continuing The Last of Us Franchise

The Last of Us franchise has been groundbreaking with its approach to storytelling. Naughty Dog had already made it clear that the studio was capable of creating great action games with Jak and Daxter and Uncharted, but The Last of Us showcased the developer's ability to craft a narrative that is just as beautiful as it is heart-wrenching. There's a case to be made that the franchise has too much potential to just let it end.

Despite the games featuring lengthy stories, it still feels like Naughty Dog has only scratched the surface with its lore. There are still so many questions about the WLF, the Seraphites, and even the Fireflies, which have remained a constant point of interest.

These could easily be explored further in spin-off games, and that's ultimately what makes the cancelation of The Last of Us Online so devastating because it was a chance to dive deeper into the franchise's factions.

Ending The Last of Us Franchise

Besides there being good reasons to expand upon the universe of The Last of Us, there may be an even better reason for the series to end after The Last of Us 3. When it comes to storytelling, whether it be in games, movies, or television, it is always hugely disappointing when a narrative overstays its welcome. It inevitably sours the whole story, and The Last of Us is too special of a franchise to have that happen.

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Also, The Last of Us 3 is already going to feel strange without Joel, unless he's featured in flashbacks again. Ellie is the core of The Last of Us if Abby isn't explored further, and the idea of a Last of Us game also without Ellie may feel empty if there isn't a protagonist who is a worthy successor. Ellie deserves to have her story wrapped up satisfyingly, and if The Last of Us 3 finally gives her a chance at happiness, then the franchise expanding beyond that afterward may ultimately feel pointless.