Ethan Crossfield 
The Last of Us fans should keep September 28 on their calendars. Naughty Dog is preparing a Last of Us Day celebration tied to the in-universe event that begins the series, and its teaser points to a partnership announcement and another collaboration. The studio has not confirmed whether the event will include new game information, so fans should watch for official updates rather than assume a sequel reveal is imminent.
What changed for The Last of Us Day?
A new update to the PlayStation Welcome Hub on PS5 adds a dynamic background built around an animated collage of Ellie from The Last of Us Part I and Part II. The feature also references Naughty Dog's plan to celebrate The Last of Us Day on Monday, September 28. Alongside the celebration tease, the studio indicated that a partnership and a separate collaboration are on the way, but it has not explained what either project involves.
The date has significance within the fiction of the series. It commemorates the day when the catastrophic outbreak at the center of The Last of Us story began. Naughty Dog has used the occasion to spotlight the franchise before, making it a natural point for merchandise, media, or game-related announcements.
Who should be paying attention?
Players who have completed the two main games, their remakes or remasters, and fans of the HBO adaptation all have reasons to follow the news. The original 2013 release established The Last of Us as one of Naughty Dog's flagship properties, while Part II continued the story and became a finalist for Game of the Year. The franchise has also expanded beyond games through HBO's award-winning live-action series.
However, the games' immediate future remains unclear. Naughty Dog canceled a planned multiplayer project in 2023, and the studio has not officially announced a new mainline game. A cryptic reference from Neil Druckmann to future stops in the franchise provided no concrete details. Fans should therefore treat the September 28 material as an opportunity for information, not confirmation of a particular title.
What comes next for the franchise?
The television series gives fans a more clearly established source of upcoming content. HBO has announced John Goodman as Joey, Ian Alexander as Paco, and Laura Bailey as Elizabeth for Season 3. Alexander and Bailey previously voiced Lev and Abby in The Last of Us Part II, while the new roles connect Goodman and Alexander to the Heroes of the Highway.
There is also no longer a multiplayer fan project to track. Mod team Speclizer shelved its planned The Last of Us Part II multiplayer mod in September 2026 after Sony requested that it not be released. The decision was believed to be connected to the team's offer of paid Patreon early access. That leaves official Naughty Dog and HBO announcements as the most reliable ways to follow the franchise's next developments.
What players should know
- September 28 is the date Naughty Dog is using for its The Last of Us Day celebration.
- The PS5 Welcome Hub currently features an Ellie-themed dynamic background tied to the promotion.
- Naughty Dog has teased a partnership and a collaboration, but has not identified either one.
- No new game continuation has been officially announced, and the canceled multiplayer project is not returning.
- HBO's third season has confirmed new cast members, giving the television adaptation a clearer near-term path.
Expert View
The September 28 celebration is worth following because Naughty Dog is signaling more than a routine anniversary post, but the available evidence does not support predictions of The Last of Us Part III or another game reveal. The safest expectation is a franchise-related partnership or collaboration, with any major gaming announcement treated as a possibility rather than a promise.
