Major news, even if we all saw it coming: HBO's The Last of Us has officially been renewed for Season 3, less than a week before the premiere of Season 2 on Max.

“It can’t be for nothing,” Max revealed via its social media channels on April 9. “Season 3 is coming.” A deep red flare is featured burning bright in the bottom corner of a video accompanying the ominous caption.

It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 9, 2025

The Last of Us premiered in January 2023 to major acclaim, often hailed as the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 garnered an impressive eight Emmy awards out of 24 nominations. The eagerly awaited Season 2 will see the return of stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal as Ellie and Joel, joined by newcomer Kaitlyn Dever playing Abby, a soldier driven by a quest for revenge after losing someone dear. The cast of Season 2 is further enriched with the addition of Young Mazino from Beef, Isabelle Merced from Alien: Romulus, Danny Ramirez from Captain America: Brave New World, and legends Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright.

Recently, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared their insights with IGN on the ongoing debate surrounding Joel's controversial decision, a central theme since the game's 2013 release.

“I believe Joel was right,” said the Naughty Dog studio head. “If I were in Joel's position, I hope I would be able to do what he did to save my daughter.” In contrast, Mazin offered a different perspective: “That's so interesting, because I think that if I were in Joel's position, I probably would have done what he did,” the Chernobyl showrunner remarked. “But I'd like to think that I wouldn't. That's the interesting push and pull of the morality of it. And that's why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so wonderful. It just doesn't let you off the hook as a player.”

The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on Max on April 13, 2025, but the release date for Season 3 remains undisclosed. For more insights, check out IGN's spoiler-free review of The Last of Us Season 2.