Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog business and news from across the web.
10 years later, Uncharted 4 remains the perfect antidote to overly bleak and serious adventuringTen years after its release, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End remains a standout example of pulpy adventure gaming, offering a perfect antidote to overly bleak titles. While Naughty Dog has since focused on The Last of Us series, Uncharted 4's innovative gameplay and thrilling set-pieces still hold up, showcasing a formula that could be built upon for future adventures.
PlayStation's AI Push Raises a Bigger Question: Where Do You Draw the Line?Sony Interactive Entertainment announced its intention to use AI for player experiences, sparking debate about the role of generative AI in game development. While PlayStation emphasizes AI as a tool to augment human creativity and optimize processes like animation and upscaling, concerns remain about its potential impact on artistic integrity. The article contrasts PlayStation's approach with instances where other developers have faced backlash for using generative AI in game assets.
PlayStation sees AI as a 'powerful tool,' teams including Naughty Dog, San Diego Studio already using itSony Interactive Entertainment, including teams like Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio, is embracing artificial intelligence as a powerful tool to enhance game development and player experiences. AI is being used to automate workflows, accelerate development cycles, and improve areas such as quality assurance, 3D modeling, and animation, with tools like 'Mockingbird' already in use. While PlayStation sees significant benefits, the broader game development community expresses growing concern over AI's impact.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered used PlayStation's new AI animation tool, and Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio are…Sony Interactive Entertainment is leveraging Artificial Intelligence as a tool to enhance game development and player experience, with teams at Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio already utilizing AI animation tools in titles like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. CEO Hideaki Nishino highlighted AI's role in improving production efficiency and player immersion, also mentioning the PS5 Pro's machine learning upscaling technology.
Sony insults devs by saying AI will 'unleash the creativity' of PS5Sony Interactive Entertainment President Hideaki Nishino discussed the company's plans for integrating Artificial Intelligence into PlayStation's future, framing it as a tool to 'unleash creativity' and accelerate development. While acknowledging potential benefits in automating repetitive tasks and improving workflows for studios like Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio, the article raises concerns about the implications for artists and the potential for AI to be perceived as a cost-saving measure rather than a genuine creative enhancement.
PlayStation is partnering with Bandai Namco for a "collaborative initiative" focused on generative AISony and Bandai Namco Entertainment have announced a collaborative initiative focused on leveraging generative AI and other advanced technologies to aid game development. Sony executives emphasized that AI will serve as an amplifier for human creativity rather than a replacement for artists. The partnership aims to identify gains in speed and productivity while addressing the shortcomings of current AI models.
PlayStation’s First-Party Studios Are Using Generative AI for QA, 3D Modeling, AnimationsSony is integrating generative AI tools into PlayStation Studios' development pipelines for tasks like QA, 3D modeling, and animation, using tools like Mockingbird for facial animations. While Sony emphasizes AI as an amplifier for human creativity, other studios like Mundfish, IO Interactive, and Take-Two Interactive have expressed caution or confirmed no AI use in their current projects, particularly for art assets in games like Grand Theft Auto 6.
We're Sure This Petition to Release the PS5 Last of Us Online Multiplayer Game Will WorkA petition has been created on Change.org urging Naughty Dog and PlayStation to release the cancelled The Last of Us online multiplayer game, citing fan dedication and market potential. Despite former developers claiming the game was 80% complete and highly praised, the article suggests the petition is unlikely to sway the companies' decision to focus on single-player titles.
PS Studios Celebrates the Launch of PS5 Exclusive Saros with Brilliant ArtworkHousemarque's new PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, has launched, accompanied by celebratory artwork from various PlayStation Studios developers including Sucker Punch Productions, Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Insomniac Games. Atomic Heart developer Mundfish also joined in the well wishes. The article praises Saros as a fantastic and accessible experience, particularly for fans of Returnal.
'It's a Different Side to Naughty Dog': Intergalatic's Tati Gabrielle Talks Up New PS5 ExclusiveActress Tati Gabrielle, who stars as the protagonist in the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, believes the game will showcase a different side of developer Naughty Dog. She hinted at ambitious world-building and a unique sci-fi narrative, distinct from Naughty Dog's previous titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted. The game is reportedly planned for a 2027 release.
Naughty Dog Is Doing Something Completely Different With Intergalactic | HappyGamerNaughty Dog is developing a new game titled Intergalactic that represents a significant departure from their previous work like The Last of Us and Uncharted. Actress Tati Gabrielle confirmed the studio is challenging themselves with extensive world-building for this new science fiction project, which is expected to leverage the capabilities of the PlayStation 5.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet brings "a different side of Naughty Dog," lead actor says, which sounds…Lead actor Tati Gabrielle stated that Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, will showcase a different side of the studio, emphasizing its world-building and creative storytelling. This marks a departure from the studio's recent focus on The Last of Us franchise, with the game expected to be a significant creative endeavor.
Intergalactic Star Says The Game Shows "Such A Different Side" Of Naughty DogTati Gabrielle, lead actor for Naughty Dog's upcoming sci-fi game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, stated that the title will showcase a "different side" of the studio. The game, which features a bounty hunter protagonist on the planet Sempiria, is described as Naughty Dog's "wildest, most creative story" to date, with music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is "a different side of Naughty Dog", says lead actressLead actress Tati Gabrielle describes Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, as a departure from the studio's previous work, highlighting its unique retro-futuristic aesthetic and themes of faith and religion. Gabrielle, who plays bounty hunter Jordan A Mun, also discussed the mental preparation she underwent due to potential online abuse, a concern faced by actors in The Last of Us Part II.
Best Zombie Games Of All TimeThis guide ranks the best zombie games of all time, highlighting titles that excel in survival, horror, and action. Featured games include '7 Days to Die,' 'Days Gone,' 'Resident Evil 2,' and 'The Last of Us series,' among others, spanning various platforms like PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.
'It was controversial internally too' — Former Naughty Dog dev says the studio was 'split' on The Last of Us Part 2's most divisive deathA former Naughty Dog artist, Heather Cerlan, revealed that the controversial death of Joel Miller in The Last of Us Part 2 was also a point of contention within the studio. Cerlan stated that the development team was internally divided on the decision, mirroring the strong reactions from fans upon the game's release in 2020. The article also touches on the online abuse faced by voice actress Laura Bailey following the game's launch.
The Last of Us Online Director Says Former Colleagues Still Call it “The Best Multiplayer Game”Former director Vinit Agarwal revealed that colleagues still consider the cancelled The Last of Us Online to be the best multiplayer game they've played. Naughty Dog cancelled the project in December 2023 due to its massive scope and the need to prioritize single-player narrative games. Agarwal, who worked on the title for seven years, expressed devastation but understanding for the decision.
'We're Going to Pull Funding if You Don't Fix This': Uncharted 4 Was Almost Cancelled on PS4 Because It 'Sucked'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End faced significant development challenges, with Sony reportedly threatening to pull funding due to an early prototype that was deemed unsatisfactory. Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley were brought in to salvage the project, which ultimately led to its successful completion after a lengthy production cycle.
Todd Howard seemed "a bit of a fanboy" for Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann, former Last of Us and Starfield…Former Bethesda and Naughty Dog artist Heather Cerlan shared that Bethesda's Todd Howard expressed significant admiration for Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann. Howard reportedly acted like a "fanboy" when discussing Druckmann during their time working together. The article also touches on the competitive spirit between the adaptations of The Last of Us and Fallout.
The Last of Us Online was "the best multiplayer game" many Naughty Dog devs had "ever played," ex…Former Naughty Dog developer Vinit Agarwal stated that the canceled multiplayer game, The Last of Us Online, was considered by many ex-colleagues to be the best multiplayer game they had ever played. Despite being approximately 80% complete, the live service title was canceled, leading Agarwal to vow that future projects he works on will be released.