The Last of Us: A Potential Sequel

     According to Naughty Dog writer and creative director Neil Druckmann, they are currently considering ways of approaching a sequel to The Last of Us.

     "We have started brainstorming some stuff. To be honest, some of them are sequel ideas, and some of them are brand new IP - we've spent the last few weeks brainstorming new IP. So we have to get some good steps and see... It's kind of like how we approached Left Behind. Can we tell people a story that's really worth telling, and that's not repeating itself? And if we can't, where can we get inspired - what is something that's really going to challenge us, and push storytelling in this medium forward?"

     I would absolutely love another game in the world of The Last of Us, but I don't want it to be anywhere around Joel or Ellie.  Maybe a cameo, but leave their story be.  It was so perfectly handled, that messing with it could be a problem.  
     In an interview with the Playstation Blog Druckmann has said as much:

How expansive is the universe and mythos you’ve created. Have you left space for more stories?

Neil Druckmann:  I think the world is ripe for more stories, but as far as the journey Joel and Ellie goes on it ends with this game. We were very conscious that we didn't want to leave this story dangling. If we never do a sequel we’re ok with it, because we told the story we needed to tell.

     He may not have meant Joel and Ellie's stories per se, but at least their story with the Firefllies- as he clarified with Kotaku:

"I can clarify that quote, because I've seen it misquoted," Druckmann told me yesterday. "I said this journey for Joel and Ellie is complete. In a spoiler sense, I was referring to the journey with the Fireflies and what they're after with the cure and all that. We're not continuing that.

"But as far as whether we come back to Joel and Ellie or not, or whether we come back to the world or not, that's all up in the air. I can tell you there are people in the studio that would love to come back to these characters, but the only way we would do it would be if we had something new, something meaningful to say. Because the last thing we would want to do is repeat ourselves."

     What would be great is to be able to marvel at the wonderful scenery of the in game world from other people's perspectives.  Same world, different stories.  There's an entire world to explore outside of our two former protagonists.  Even a game from Bill's view would be great- maybe something telling of what he went on to do after helping Joel and Ellie.  He had a sad story, and I would like to know more.

     All I know is they crafted something so perfectly, it is a touchy thing to return to.  As it is, The Last of Us stands solidly on it's own and doesn't need anything added, but if they do decide to revisit that world, they've got me on board.  The mostly derelict countryside is strange and beautiful in that frightening way, where you know there is something, somewhere waiting to kill you, but you just can't help but want to see more.

     I even think a short new 4-6 hour game set in this world would be a great exclusive for the Playstation Vita.  It would fall in line with Naughty Dog's Uncharted: The Golden Abyss.

     Sources [ Eurogamer ] [ Kotaku ] [ Playstation Blog ]