Summary
The Last of Ushas made some huge waves in not only gaming but the entertainment world in general. SinceThe Last of Uslaunched 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 2made some major decisionsthat 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, andThe Last of Us 3can decide if it wants to repeat this open-ended conclusion or if it wants to wrap up Ellie’s story once and for all.
The Last of Us 3 Has a Major Decision to Make
There were seven long years between the release ofThe Last of UsandThe Last of Us 2and the wait for a third chapter will likely be similar.IfThe Last of Us 3becomes a reality, then the game has to decide whether the franchise should continue or not. Both avenues have their pros and cons, butThe Last of Us 3will be the deciding factor.
Continuing The Last of Us Franchise
TheLast of Usfranchise 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 withJak and DaxterandUncharted, butThe Last of Usshowcased 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 manyquestions 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 ofThe Last of Us Onlineso devastating because it was a chance to dive deeper into the franchise’s factions.
Ending The Last of Us Franchise
Besides there being goodreasons to expand upon the universe ofThe Last of Us, there may be an even better reason for the series to end afterThe 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, andThe Last of Usis too special of a franchise to have that happen.
Also,The Last of Us 3is already going to feel strange without Joel, unless he’s featured in flashbacks again.Ellie is the core ofThe Last of Usif Abby isn’t explored further, and the idea of aLast of Usgame 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 ifThe Last of Us 3finally gives her a chance at happiness, then the franchise expanding beyond that afterward may ultimately feel pointless.
