Plenty of the most anticipated games of the future have not even received a formal announcement yet. Some titles feel obvious, and others are less likely, but two series that land in the former category areThe Last of UsandRed Dead Redemption. Indeed,developers like Naughty Dogand Rockstar sit atop the single-player, story-centric space with recent offerings being immensely special, and all eyes will be on them to once again reestablish the benchmark when each studio launches its next project.
The Last of Us 3andRed Dead Redemption 3are undoubtedly the main events for those who enjoy deep character development and high-quality storytelling. The second game of each franchise pushed the bar to a new level, one that their successors will surely find it almost impossible to hop over. Still, one of the most significant issues that each game faces is its respective protagonist. Both IPs have strong personalities that are capable of pushing a great narrative, but the lack of consistency in past iterations could prove difficult in the years ahead.
RELATED:Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Travel North Instead of South
The Last of Us 2’s Dual Protagonists Could be Problematic
The Last of UsputJoel and Ellie at the center of the storywith a beautiful, but heartbreaking account of two people’s trek across a post-apocalyptic America, and it succeeded massively because of that relationship. However, Joel became incredibly divisive as a character after his pivotal decision in the Fireflies' hospital, so when the second game was announced it would have been hard to put him back in the role of a good guy. Instead,The Last of Us 2decides to use him as a catalyst for Ellie’s journey, since his death sets her on a path for revenge.
The game flips at the halfway point,putting players in the shoes of Abby, Joel’s killer. It’s a bold choice for the narrative, but one that also puts the series in a weird spot for the third game. There’s no telling which character Naughty Dog will utilize this time, as the lack of consistency now proves an issue rather than a strength of the story.The Last of Us 3could go for someone new entirely but, asInfamous: Second Sonproved, this is tough to do while capturing the charm of the original.
Conversely,Red Dead Redemptionleans on John Marstonfor the first game as well as the epilogue for the second. Now, players have seen him in the Van der Linde Gang before he escaped that life, right up until his death. Fans have seen more of him than they may have expected to, and as his timeline is now documented, there’s the issue of whom the series should use next.
Going back to Arthur Morgan in a prequel is an option, but that would continue the trend of returning to existing characters once again. The gang has plenty of other characters to draw from, not unlikeThe Last of Us 3, but it might be too enticing to start fresh with someone new.
It would be a surprise to seeThe Last of UsandRed Dead Redemptionstop when they’re arguably at their very best, but if they are to continue, each game needs a clear protagonist to push the franchise forward in potential new iterations. It will be tough as each one seems to present new eyes for the player to see through, but never abandon the ones that preceded them, so there may be an expectation to do the same. Having that many great characters to lean on is an overwhelming gift, but if used incorrectly it could be a curse.
The Last of Us 3is rumored to be in development.
MORE:The Last of Us Should Make Good on One Infected Concept the HBO Show Missed the Mark on
