Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog business and news from across the web.- Former Xbox Veteran Says Canceling The Last of Us Online Was the Right Call, Criticizes Naughty Dog and Sony for Green-lighting It in the First PlaceA former Xbox veteran believes Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog made the correct decision to cancel The Last of Us Online. The veteran criticized the companies for green-lighting the project in the first place, suggesting it was a flawed concept from the start.
The Last of Us led Naughty Dog to accept crunch is "what it takes to make games at our level," former designer says, so Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet devs are probably deep in itA former Naughty Dog senior game designer, Benson Russell, stated that the studio views crunch as a necessary component for creating games at their level, citing internal deadlines treated as external ones. This perspective, reportedly solidified after the release of The Last of Us in 2013, suggests that overtime is considered inevitable for employees, with an option to leave if unwilling to comply. The article also mentions ongoing crunch for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and the scrapping of The Last of Us Online.
Uncharted 2 dev says the truck chase "was taken directly from Resident Evil 5" because The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann thought it was "f***ing awesome"Former Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell revealed that the truck chase sequence in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was directly inspired by a similar scene in Resident Evil 5. Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us, reportedly saw the Resident Evil 5 scene and wanted to implement a comparable moment into Uncharted 2, which was achieved months before its release.
The Last of Us Online’s Cancellation Was a Good Decision, Says Microsoft Game Studios Co-FounderMicrosoft Game Studios co-founder Laura Fryer stated that the cancellation of The Last of Us Online was a positive decision, preventing Naughty Dog from falling into the sunk cost fallacy. She criticized the project's handling and lack of planning, emphasizing that supporting a live service game would have jeopardized the studio's focus on single-player narrative titles.
Former Naughty Dog Developer Says Studio Learned From The Last of Us That “Crunch is a Requirement”Former Naughty Dog senior game designer Benson Russell stated that the studio learned from developing The Last of Us that crunch is a requirement for making games at their level. Russell explained that internal deadlines are treated as external, and employees are incentivized to work overtime, with bonuses offered for larger contributions. Reports from 2020 and earlier also highlighted Naughty Dog's culture of unhealthy working hours, with developers expressing concerns about the sustainability of such practices.
Former Xbox exec thinks Naughty Dog's decision to cancel the 80% completed The Last of Us Online 'was the right call', but it shouldn't have greenlit it in the first place — 'The ambition was there, but the realistic upfront planning wasn't', she saysFormer Microsoft executive Laura Fryer believes Naughty Dog made the correct decision to cancel The Last of Us Online, even though it was nearly 80% complete. She argues the real mistake was greenlighting the project without adequate upfront planning for a live service model, which would have strained the studio's resources and potentially compromised its focus on single-player narrative games.
Next PlayStation State of Play Set for the Coming Weeks, It's ClaimedSony is reportedly planning to host its next State of Play livestream within the next seven weeks, likely before June. This event is expected to showcase upcoming PlayStation titles, potentially including Marvel's Wolverine, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Marvel Tokon, alongside third-party announcements.- State of Play with Third-Party PS5 Reveals Tipped for Next Week, According to Notorious SnoopA notorious leaker known as NateTheHate suggests Sony's next State of Play livestream could occur as early as April 16th, with a focus on third-party titles. The rumor also hints at a potential reveal for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced on the same day. While unconfirmed, the leaker has a history of accurate information regarding PlayStation's plans.
Games Inbox: What is the best PS5 game?Readers discuss their favorite PlayStation 5 games, with Elden Ring being a popular choice. The discussion also touches on the potential for Star Fox and Ecco the Dolphin remasters, concerns about developer survival, and the future of live service games.
Rumour: Naughty Dog 'Floated' the Idea of Uncharted 5 Before COVIDAccording to insider Tom Henderson, Naughty Dog has considered developing Uncharted 5 multiple times, including before the COVID-19 pandemic. While the studio's current focus is on a new IP, a return to the Uncharted series remains a possibility given its commercial success for Sony.
Uncharted 5 Underwent "Some Planning" Years Ago, Report SaysAccording to reporter Tom Henderson, Naughty Dog conducted some planning for an Uncharted 5 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Uncharted 4 concluded Nathan Drake's story, the epilogue hinted at a potential future installment possibly starring his daughter, Cassie. Naughty Dog has stated that if a new Uncharted game were to be made, they would assist an outside studio to ensure the series' essence is maintained.
Uncharted 5 Was Planned at Naughty Dog Before COVID – RumorA report suggests that Naughty Dog had plans for an Uncharted 5 before the COVID-19 pandemic, though the studio is currently focused on its new IP, Intergalactic. The rumor emerged following a social media post by creative director Shaun Escayg, which some interpreted as research for a new Uncharted title. The article also discusses the industry trend of studios prioritizing sequels to established franchises over new intellectual property.
Games Inbox: Has the new Mass Effect been cancelled?Reader mail discusses the lack of news regarding a new Mass Effect game, with one reader suspecting it may be cancelled despite EA's assurances. Other topics include potential remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the viability of a new Uncharted game, and the pricing of the PlayStation 5 Pro. There's also discussion on the success of Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy movie and its potential impact on future game and film adaptations.
Ex-Bethesda Dev Says Todd Howard’s ‘Yes Men’ Culture Hurt Fallout, SkyrimA former Bethesda developer has criticized Todd Howard's leadership, alleging a 'yes men' culture that negatively impacted the development of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The developer claims fear of disagreeing with Howard stifled productive feedback, a concern that resurfaces amid mixed reception for Starfield and anticipation for The Elder Scrolls VI.
Uncharted Dev Hints At A Potential New TitleSpeculation about a new Uncharted title is mounting following a social media post by Uncharted: The Lost Legacy director Shaun Escayg. Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann also hinted at a new project, potentially not related to The Last of Us. Separately, Vinit Agarwal revealed that the 80% complete multiplayer game The Last of Us Online was canceled just before its public announcement.
Terminal War: An Indie Shooter Inspired by The Last of Us 2 Factions - GameHauntTerminal War is an upcoming indie tactical third-person shooter targeting PC via Steam Early Access, with a planned development cycle of 12 to 18 months. The game emphasizes slow, realistic combat and teamwork over fast-paced action, featuring 4v4 multiplayer matches in a war-torn 1990s America. Developers aim to provide a more strategic experience than mainstream shooters like Call of Duty and Apex Legends.- Naughty Dog Creative Director Is in Trinidad for 'Research' and a Lot of Fans Think It's for Uncharted 5Naughty Dog creative director Shaun Escayg posted a cryptic message from Trinidad & Tobago, sparking fan speculation about a potential Uncharted 5. The post, captioned 'Research,' has led many to believe he is gathering information for a new installment in the Uncharted series.
The Last of Us Online Was Cancelled 24 Hours Before It Was AnnouncedThe Last of Us Online was canceled just 24 hours before its public announcement, with director Vinit Agarwal revealing the project was 80 percent complete. Journalist Jason Schreier also reported that the cancellation led to layoffs at Sony, impacting development on future single-player titles.
Uncharted Fans Think a Social Post Is Evidence of New PS5 EntryFans are speculating about a new Uncharted game after a Naughty Dog developer posted an image of a fort pointing out to sea on Instagram. While the image has been linked to Fort George in Trinidad & Tobago, it is unlikely to be a direct tease for a new entry, especially with Naughty Dog's next project, Intergalactic, not expected until 2027.
A fanmade Jak and Daxter 3 PC port is now in beta, finally making Naughty Dog's most underrated trilogy fully…A fan-made PC port for Jak 3 has entered beta, completing the trilogy of Naughty Dog's PlayStation 2 action-platformers with PC availability. While Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is considered complete, Jak 2 and Jak 3 have minor audio and graphical bugs. These ports offer features like widescreen, 4K resolution, 60 FPS, and modding support.