“Something worse than the Rat King”: The Last of Us Part 3 Could Incorporate the Show’s Biggest Diversion from the OG Lore

The Last of Us fans conceptualized a new infected variant that would elevate the achievement made in the controversial sequel.

the last of us part 3

SUMMARY

  • The gaming community is optimistic that The Last of Us Part 3 would feature new infected variants.
  • Director Neil Druckmann neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a third The Last of Us game.
  • The Last of Us fans are eager to see where Naughty Dog will take the franchise after the controversial sequel.
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The Last of Us is a story of love and hate in a world torn by the Cordyceps virus. The infected destroyed everything humanity achieved and the gaming community was enamored by what the developers had done with the narrative and the unique character model and designs of infected variants.

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The infected ravaged the whole world and the developers incorporated real-life aspects to stay grounded in how they move and evolve. There is a science behind the evolution of the infected and they continue to grow into more savage creatures with the thirst for blood as time goes on.

The Developers Could Introduce Newer Variants of the Infected in The Last of Us Part 3

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An infected - A clicker from HBO's The Last of Us

Naughty Dog has spent the last few years working on the franchise and delivered one of the greatest stories ever told in gaming. The director hinted that The Last of Us Part 3 could still happen despite the controversial sequel causing major setbacks to the studio’s future.

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Anything is possible and the gaming community is looking forward to facing new threats in the sequel. The infected evolve from a runner to a Clicker and Bloater, and fans are excited to see what kind of new enemy variety the developers can conjure.

The developers can get creative and allow the virus to spread across different species like animals and spice up the combat encounters with infected bears or enhanced dogs. New enemies will encourage players to fight differently and elevate the experience from previous games.

The live-action adaptation of HBO introduced a new concept of the infected sharing a hive mind. The Cordyceps grow underground and create a network that links every infected in the area which could be used excitingly for the gameplay, especially in large areas where stealth is key.

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Director Neil Druckmann Could Take Notes From the Live-Action Series of The Last of Us

The Rat King was introduced in The Last of Us Part 2 and is the most advanced infected variant.
The Rat King was introduced in The Last of Us Part 2 and is the most advanced infected variant. Image Credit: Naughty Dog

Druckmann could think outside the box to introduce new enemy types for the sequel and give the gaming community the challenge they desired and longed for. Perhaps increasing the enemy variety will keep the experience from getting old and be the perfect opportunity to showcase the advanced combat systems.

The franchise has been renowned for the themes of violence and Naughty Dog did not shy away from crafting one of the most realistic gore and dismemberment mechanics in a video game. The developers introduced intelligent NPCs that are capable of flanking and even added dogs to the mix which could make players feel uncomfortable.

The developers redefined the stealth gameplay and have set the bar for how it should work in games. Introducing newer infected variants that offer a challenge can give this sequel a massive advantage that previous games did not that it would make sense in the context of the lore about their biology.

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The live-action adaptation may have taken away the requirement to wear gas masks around spores but gave the franchise a new idea to play with. The hivemind could be a great feature for the sequel and will showcase how far the Cordyceps virus has taken over the planet and give players a massive headache.

Would you like to see new infected variants and the hivemind in The Last of Us Part 3? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Written by Rouvin Josef Quirimit

Articles Published: 797

Rouvin is deeply fascinated by pop culture media ranging from comics, movies, TV shows and especially video games with a rich narrative.