Highlights

  • The Last of Us Part 3 is in the works, with a potential focus on Ellie's journey and a more hopeful storyline.
  • Joel's death in Part 2 sets the stage for a narrative centered on the consequences of violence and revenge.
  • While the specifics are still a mystery, fans can expect the final chapter to tie up loose ends in a meaningful way.

How the story of The Last of Us Part 3 will play out is anyone's guess, but fans can be sure that the game is coming at some point. Series creator Neil Druckmann touched on The Last of Us Part 3 earlier this year, stating that he believes there's "one more chapter" to the story, and that a rough outline of this chapter has been devised. That's about all the information that's been made available, though, with matters of setting, protagonists, and narrative premise still a mystery at this time.

That said, The Last of Us has always centered on Ellie, so it seems unlikely that the third game will leave her behind entirely. Even if The Last of Us Part 3 shifts focus to Abby and Lev, which is plausible given Part 2's ending, Ellie is bound to play a significant role. At the end of Part 2, she appears to have reached a sort of bittersweet closure with regard to Joel's death, giving up her quest for revenge and returning to Jackson. Sadly, her warpath left her without her partner, adoptive child, and two fingers, keeping her from playing the guitar that Joel taught her how to play. The last shot of the game is of Ellie walking into the distance, carving a new path for herself.

The Last of Us 2 is unclear about the status of Dina and Ellie's relationship, which is something that Part 3 may focus on.

abby-the-last-of-us-2
Related
The Last of Us Deserves a Breather That Only Naughty Dog Can Give It

Naughty Dog's The Last of Us series remains popular, but that doesn't mean the franchise should forfeit a chance at a breather.

Ellie Can't Follow In Joel's Footsteps

The Last of Us 2 Was a Bitter End for Joel

The Last of Us 2 infamously kills Joel near the start of the story. It is arguably the most controversial narrative decision in video game history, right up there with Mass Effect 3's notorious ending, but its impact is undeniable. Joel's death is the catalyst for The Last of Us 2's narrative, and while it will probably be debated for years to come, its message and intention are clear.

For as much as general gaming audiences love Joel, he isn't exactly a heroic figure. He kills countless people in Part 1, and he pays the price for it. His death is less about what is ethically justified and more a matter of inevitability: what goes around comes around, and if Joel enacts his wrath on others, then others will enact their wrath on him. This statement about the cycle of violence is a predominant theme of The Last of Us 2, but it's a drum that Part 3 shouldn't continue beating.

The Last of Us 3 Should Be More Hopeful

While it wouldn't be right for The Last of Us Part 3 to be saccharine or overly optimistic, it shouldn't share the same bleakness and cruelty as its predecessor. Both Last of Us games put Ellie through an inordinate amount of suffering, and though it might make some sense to kill her or another of her loved ones off, a more positive or productive fate would be more satisfying from a narrative standpoint. Since Part 3 will probably be the final The Last of Us game, ending Ellie's story on a sour note would essentially wrap the series up with a nihilistic message, which would be disappointing and, frankly, not very interesting.

The whole point of Ellie's journey in Part 2 is that she learns to accept the tragedy of her circumstances and leave hatred and violence behind. The moral of Joel's death is that some actions can't be undone, but if something similar happens with Ellie, it would feel redundant and undermine her character arc in Part 2. The Last of Us 2 is dark and depressing, but it could give way to a better, more hopeful future in Part 3.