Neil Druckmann Steps Away from HBO’s The Last of Us to Refocus on Naughty Dog Projects

The Last of Us Season 3's Abby

Neil Druckmann, the co-creator of HBO’s The Last of Us series and co-president of Naughty Dog, has officially announced that he is stepping back from the show’s future seasons to refocus on his work at the studio. His departure comes just after the completion of season two, with production on season three yet to begin.

In a statement shared via social media, Druckmann called this a “difficult decision” but stated the timing felt right. He explained that his “complete focus” is now shifting toward Naughty Dog’s upcoming projects—most notably Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which he is both writing and directing. This game, first teased earlier this year, will reportedly explore a fictional religion in an alternate historical setting.

Druckmann expressed deep appreciation for his time working on the HBO series, calling it “a career highlight” and praising his collaboration with fellow showrunner Craig Mazin. He thanked the cast and crew for their dedication in adapting The Last of Us and Part II, adding that he feels the show is in good hands moving forward.

Despite season two drawing strong attention, the finale did experience a 55% drop in viewership—reportedly losing more than 4.5 million viewers. Even so, HBO has renewed the show for a third season, which will focus heavily on Abby’s storyline, with Kaitlyn Dever reprising the role.

Craig Mazin, who remains as showrunner, previously confirmed that the team is working on a four-season arc, noting there’s “no way” the full narrative could be told in just three seasons.

Meanwhile, Druckmann’s creative plate is far from empty. In addition to Intergalactic, he mentioned a second, unannounced Naughty Dog project currently in development. While he isn’t directly leading that title, he’s serving as a producer and mentor, offering feedback and overseeing the project’s progress.