The Last of Us 3 is coming, but it's not clear when, nor can anyone predict with certainty what it will look like. Just like the first The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part 2's ending feels fairly conclusive, even if some elements are left up for interpretation. As such, it's difficult to determine what path the third game's story will take, especially when it comes to its protagonists and general premise.
That said, it's tempting to look at the series' past for hints about the third game's broad-strokes composition. While both Last of Us games are remarkably distinct in many ways, they also share a number of core elements. One notable, common thread between both games is the implementation of dual protagonists: The Last of Us shifts perspective to Ellie when Joel gets injured, strengthening the player's connection to her through interactivity, while Part 2 puts players in the more uncomfortable position of playing as both Abby and Ellie. This use of multiple playable characters could make a return in The Last of Us 3, though whether it should is a different question.
Why The Last of Us Show's Season 2 Episode 1 Will Bear the Weight of The World on its Shoulders
Season 2 of The Last of Us is in a precarious position, as fans of the game series are well aware the show will have to get a key story beat right.
Multiple Protagonists in The Last of Us 3: The Pros and Cons
The Last of Us Has Done Interesting Things with Multiple Protagonists Before
As previously mentioned, the first Last of Us gives players control of Ellie in a surprise mid-game twist. The game sets up this shift effectively, building Ellie's character relative to Joel throughout the story before removing Joel from the equation and forcing Ellie to fend for herself. Ellie isn't as physically strong as Joel, which naturally changes how players engage with combat, further highlighting her vulnerability as a child traveling cross-country. This section greatly elevates players' connection to Ellie, solidifying her as more than just a supporting character.
Ellie's gameplay section is expanded through the Left Behind DLC, which also fleshes out her backstory.
Naughty Dog upped the ante with multiple protagonists with The Last of Us 2. The sequel uses interactivity to evoke uncomfortable, occasionally unnatural, feelings of empathy for Abby, Joel's killer. The fact that players control Abby while Ellie, the long-time hero and fan favorite, is hunting her down, makes her sections emotionally complicated.
A lot of players argue that this split-protagonist structure works to the detriment of The Last of Us 2, but this criticism is often questionable. Ultimately, players are supposed to feel conflicted about playing as Abby—she's not a villain, any more than Ellie or Joel are villains, and TLOU2 uses the power of interactivity to drive this point home.
The Last of Us 3 May Need a More Focused Narrative
It seems likely that The Last of Us 3 will be the final chapter of the franchise, providing as much closure as possible. As such, it may benefit from focusing solely on Ellie who, despite the fact that she shares the stage with Abby in TLOU2, is the de-facto protagonist of the series. The Last of Us 3 may want to hone in on her relationship with Dina and the broader Jackson community, bringing her story full circle and giving her a happy ending, or at least a definitive, satisfying one. To this end, it would be beneficial to keep the spotlight on her rather than splitting the narrative into too many different pieces.
This could result in a major shift from The Last of Us 2, which has a convoluted story that greatly expanded the series' world. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it would give Naughty Dog the chance to sharpen the emotional, intimate elements of the story, providing a more focused gameplay experience in the process.
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 24 Hours
- Metascore
- 93
