Rumors suggest that The Last of Us Part 3 is currently in the works at Naughty Dog, and Abby makes more sense than Ellie as the game's main protagonist. The post-apocalyptic saga portrays a world ravaged by a fungal infection and a cast of survivors struggling to live on after the end. The Last of Us Part 3 will presumably bring the trilogy to a close, and Abby is the perfect character to take the story full-circle.
While the first Last of Us followed the beloved duo of Joel and Ellie, The Last of Us Part 2 is controversial for splitting its story between Ellie and Joel's killer Abby. Early in the game the vengeful survivor murders Joel as revenge for Joel killing her father, leading Ellie on a bloody trip through Seattle for her own vengeance. While initially portrayed as an antagonist, TLOU2 eventually humanizes Abby and portrays her as a tragic figure not unlike Joel himself. The sequel leaves room for more adventures with both Ellie and Abby, but Abby would make more sense as the star of The Last of Us Part 3.
Abby Has Room For Growth In The Last Of Us 3
A recent report from divisive role of Abby in TLOU2 sees her consumed by vengeance at the beginning, and her work as a WLF soldier makes her colder and more jaded than the simple survivor Ellie. Abby grows thanks to her relationship with characters like Owen and Lev, however, and by the end of The Last of Us 2 Abby has become a reflection of Joel by serving as a seasoned mentor to the younger Lev.
Abby's development into a Joel-like figure in TLOU2 is poetic, and a third game could push this arc even further. The end of the series' first entry sees Joel butcher countless Fireflies, including Abby's harmless surgeon doctor, to save Ellie. TLOU3 could put Abby in the same situation, exploring whether she would go to similar brutal lengths to protect Lev at the cost of others. Abby as The Last of Us 3's protagonist could also shed more light on her past in the WLF, demonstrating her growth while also reminding players of her capacity for ruthless bloodshed.
The Last Of Us 3 Can Tie Abby Back To Ellie
The Last of Us 3 is a great opportunity to continue Abby's story, but the game could also tie back into Ellie's ongoing saga. The Last of Us Part 2 ends with Ellie leaving an empty home, Dina having left with her son after Ellie was unable to abandon revenge. Abby and Lev, meanwhile, are last seen searching for the Fireflies resistance that Abby's father belonged to and Joel callously fought in the first game. The home screen after beating TLOU2 suggests that Abby and Lev found the Fireflies on Catalina Island, and hooking up with this resistance group certainly opens the door for more Abby adventures.
The plot of TLOU3 could follow the end of The Last of Us 2, with the Fireflies perhaps sending Abby to track down Ellie to finally make a cure for the infection. The group in Salt Lake City apparently had a way to do so before Joel made the decision to save Ellie from the fatal surgery, so the Fireflies on Catalina Island may have similar research and equipment. This could lead to Abby tracking down Ellie and offering another chance to save the world. This alliance would be an interesting step for both characters' arcs, and could bring Ellie back as a playable character for the later part of TLOU3.
While her status as the franchise's protagonist means The Last of Us Part 3 needs Ellie, Abby would actually be a better choice as the third game's main star. The end of the second game leaves Abby and Lev with the Fireflies, which could easily lead to more character growth and future post-apocalyptic adventures. A story about tracking down Ellie would give Abby and Lev time to shine in The Last of Us Part 3, while also tying up Ellie's ongoing emotional arc.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube, Insider Gaming