'The Last of Us 2' release date, rumors: Game developer can now focus on its other game projects after 'Uncharted 4' DLC

Last of Us web site

Publisher Naughty Dog has put on hold other plans to make way for "Uncharted 4." Now that the game will finally be released on May 10, many are expecting that the next project is for the sequel of "The Last of Us."

There is nothing concrete at the moment. Neither the studio nor Sony has yet confirmed that "The Last of Us 2" is in existence. Neil Druckman, the studio's creative director and co-director Bruce Straley, were just starting to discuss on what road to travel for 'The Last of Us" when they were put on the "Uncharted 4" bus, GameRant reported.

Druckman said "Before my partner, Bruce [Straley] and I, my directing partner, came on to Uncharted 4 we were working on prototypes for different ideas within The Last Of Us universe. Without going into specific genres [there were] ideas outside the The Last Of Us."

He added, "All those things were left on hold when we had to come onto Uncharted 4 to direct the project. Our next focus is the single player [Uncharted 4] DLC and then, once we have enough resources, resurrect all those prototypes; see where we're at, see where the teams at, what they're excited for and go from there."

This shows the enthusiasm and excitement that Druckman and Straley have on the unannounced game.

The rumors started back almost a year ago, when Nolan North, the voice actor of Nathan Drake, accidentally slipped that a "The Last of Us 2" is being worked on. However, there are other telltale signs that a sequel is in the works. One is about Michael Knowland, a previous developer at Naughty Dog, who has a reference of the game sequel in his LinkedIn profile.

Movieplot also added that during "Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection" livestream back in September last year, "Uncharted" series writer, Josh Scherr, also accidentally mentioned something about the sequel.

It is also rumored that an announcement may come during Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016 from either Sony or Naughty Dog with regards to the game, but currently, nothing is official.