The Last of Us 3 Can Pioneer A Whole New Domain Only If Neil Druckmann Embraces A Hidetaka Miyazaki Element He Already Knows About

There’s no doubt that gamers are growing restless with anticipation for news surrounding The Last of Us 3. It’s been four years since we’ve been treated with a fresh mainline release in the franchise. The franchise’s creator, Neil Druckmann, himself earlier confirmed the project back in February 2024.

The incredible success of HBO’s The Last of Us 3 has undoubtedly added more pressure on the shoulders of The Last of Us 3. The game will definitely raise the bar for the franchise and stand out from the previous entries. However, The Last of Us 3 can truly break barriers if it manages to embrace Hidetaka Miyazaki’s formula for the Soulsborne series.

The Last of Us 3 Must Follow Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Formula For Success

It’s a known fact that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the studio head for FromSoftware and the director behind some of the most legendary games such as Bloodborne, Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring, is the most influence person in the entire gaming industry.

Back in 2023, Miyazaki became the second game developer ever to feature in TIME Magazine’s annual list. His entry also featured a brief written by The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann, who explained his experience playing Miyazaki’s finest creations.

As Druckmann said himself, one of the biggest reasons why gamers simply can’t get enough of Miyazaki’s titles is that they make players feel “accomplished and smart.”

FromSoftware and Miyazaki take a unique approach and don’t go overboard explaining the mechanics or lore of their games. This puts players in the driving seat to unravel the secrets of the games.

Druckmann has already confirmed that The Last of Us 3 is on its way, and NaughtyDog is looking for ways to elevate the franchise’s formula.

Considering that Druckmann is already a fan of Miyazaki’s Soulsborne games, he can pick up various aspects and introduce them in the upcoming The Last of Us Game.

Featuring the biggest strengths of Soulsborne games will help Druckmann and NaughtyDog successfully manage to recreate Miyazaki’s formula. This will allow The Last of Us 3 to bring gamers the ultimate sense of accomplishment, which they’ve all been craving for.

If Druckmann manages to successfully bring a game similar to Miyazaki’s Soulsborne, without the difficulty part, no one can stop The Last of Us 3 from become a generational-hit.

When is The Last of Us 3 Coming Out?

While chatting about NaughtyDog’s future and The Last of Us franchise, Druckmann stated that the studio won’t always focus on the series. He still wants to go ahead and pursue other titles and bring unique single-player adventures.

However, that does not mean that NaughtyDog is done making The Last of Us games. The success of the TV series starring Pedro Pascal is something that the franchise must capitalize on, as there are still more stories to explore within its expansive world.

But we still don’t have a shred of an idea about The Last of Us Part 3 release date. Currently, it’s in the early stages of development, but Druckmann has stated that it’s going to follow the same process as the second game, featuring a story and message surrounding love.

With that said, what do you think The Last of Us 3 needs to bring to the table to establish itself as a massive success? Let us know in the comments below.