Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog business and news from across the web.
The Last of Us season 3 has found its Lev and Yara, as Skeleton Crew star joins the castThe Last of Us season 3 has cast Michelle Mao as Yara and Kyriana Kratter as Lev, two members of the Seraphite cult. Lev, Yara's younger brother, is a trans character in the game, a portrayal that is expected to continue in the television adaptation. Kratter, who is not trans, will portray the character.
The Last Of Us Season 3 Has A Curious Casting Decision For A Key RoleHBO's The Last of Us adaptation has faced criticism for its casting of Lev, a transgender character, with cisgender actor Kyriana Kratter set to play the role in Season 3. This decision contrasts with Naughty Dog's casting of transgender actor Ian Alexander in The Last of Us Part II. The article discusses the implications of casting cisgender actors in transgender roles and the potential for online backlash.
Intergalactic Director Teases Return of The Last of Us ActorNaughty Dog director Neil Druckmann has teased that an actor from The Last of Us, Merle Dandridge, may appear in the studio's upcoming game, Intergalactic. Dandridge was seen in a motion capture suit, and Druckmann referred to her as an "intergalactic treasure." The game is reportedly in late development for PlayStation 5, with reports of overtime and missed deadlines, but is described by Druckmann as Naughty Dog's most ambitious and expensive project yet. Actors Tony Dalton and Troy Baker have also spoken about their involvement and experiences working on the title.
HBO casts The Last of Us season 3's Yara and LevHBO has cast Kyriana Kratter as Lev and Michelle Mao as Yara for the upcoming third season of The Last of Us. Kratter, who is transgender, was cast after an inclusive search. Neil Druckmann, who co-showran the series, is stepping back to focus on Naughty Dog's game development but will remain involved at a high level.
Intergalactic PS5 Seemingly Adds The Last of Us Star to Its CastActress Merle Dandridge, known for her role as Marlene in The Last of Us, is reportedly joining the cast of the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. She was photographed in a motion capture suit by Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann, fueling speculation about her involvement. Troy Baker and Tati Gabrielle are also confirmed to be part of the game's cast.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet's been away from the spotlight, but Neil Druckmann's teasing the return of…Naughty Dog game director Neil Druckmann has teased the return of a prominent The Last of Us actor for the upcoming game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Actor Merle Dandridge was seen in a motion capture suit, with Druckmann referring to her as an "intergalactic treasure."
60+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Refreshed Spring SaleThe PlayStation Store's Spring Sale is ongoing until April 22, 2026, featuring over 60 discounted PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games. The article highlights recommended titles that have received high scores and are at their lowest prices, including "Metaphor: ReFantazio," "Resident Evil 4," and "Hades."
Horror Icon John Carpenter Lists His Favorite Video Games of All Time — and 3 He's Really Looking Forward To - IGNHorror director John Carpenter shared his all-time favorite video games, including Borderlands 2, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fallout 76, Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin's Creed, and Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. He also expressed excitement for upcoming titles such as John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, a Halloween-themed game, and the next installment in the Fallout series.
The Last of Us sparked "internal fight" at Naughty Dog, says veteran designer: "We had to tell the team 'it's not just another zombie game'"A veteran designer revealed that Naughty Dog faced internal struggles during the development of The Last of Us, with the team needing to emphasize that it was more than just a typical zombie game. The focus was on the emotional narrative and the surrogate father-daughter relationship between Joel and Ellie, which was a key point of discussion during its early stages.
The Last of Us season three reportedly casts Abby's fatherPatrick Wilson is reportedly set to join HBO's The Last of Us for its third season, speculated to play Abby's father, Jerry. Wilson's casting is considered fitting for the pivotal character from The Last of Us Part II. The upcoming season is also expected to be the show's last.
Leon Kennedy’s Gray Hair in RE9 Sparks Gaming’s Aging ConversationResident Evil 9's depiction of a 49-year-old Leon Kennedy with graying hair has sparked conversations about aging and representation in video games. This rare acknowledgment of a character's passage of time resonates with players who have grown alongside these digital heroes for decades. Capcom's decision to age Leon, while purely cosmetic, highlights a potential shift in how AAA games can handle legacy characters and the evolving maturity of the gaming audience.
The Last of Us season 3 adds Lanterns and The Conjuring stars to cast, including your favorite exorcist Patrick Wilson…Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson have joined the cast of The Last of Us season 3, with Ritter playing a WLF agent and Wilson portraying Jerry Anderson. The series, based on the video games, is set to adapt The Last of Us Part II for its second and third seasons, shifting focus to Ellie and a new antagonist Abby.
Clair Obscur and Dispatch lead BAFTA Game Awards 2026 nominationsClair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dispatch lead the BAFTA Game Awards 2026 nominations with 12 and nine nods respectively. A total of 42 titles received nominations across various categories, with Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Arc Raiders also securing multiple nominations. The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 17, 2026, in London.
22 Of The Best Stealth Games To Sneak Around In Right NowThis article highlights 22 of the best stealth games available, showcasing a diverse range of titles that blend stealth mechanics with other genres like action, puzzle, and RPG. The list includes classics and modern titles, emphasizing games that offer unique approaches to stealth gameplay, from direct combat avoidance to intricate puzzle-solving and cooperative heists.
Have Gamers Become Too Comfortable With Sequels and Remakes?The article discusses the increasing prevalence of sequels and remakes in the gaming industry, questioning if gamers have become too comfortable with familiar titles. While acknowledging that some sequels and remakes push innovation, the author notes a decline in the number of new intellectual properties being developed and risks taken by major publishers due to rising development costs and the desire for guaranteed audiences.
PlayStation Launches Official Website for Naughty Dog’s IntergalacticPlayStation has launched the official website for Naughty Dog's upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This move signals the start of a marketing campaign for the studio's first foray into science fiction, following their success with The Last of Us and Uncharted series. The website launch suggests the game is progressing well and may be revealed further in upcoming PlayStation events.
PS5 Exclusive Intergalactic's Alleged New Webpage Is No Big Deal At AllFans have been circulating a PlayStation.com webpage for the upcoming Naughty Dog exclusive Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, believing it to be new information. However, the page has existed in its current state since at least January 2025 and contains no new details beyond what was previously revealed. The game is expected to release in 2027.
Ex-Naughty Dog artist who helped design characters for Highguard promises to keep fighting the good fight - just not in the live-service sphere, anymoreFormer Naughty Dog artist Del Walker, who contributed to games like The Last of Us Part 2, is stepping away from live-service game development following the shutdown of Highguard. Walker, known for his character designs, stated he will continue to focus on creating diverse characters, particularly Black women, but will no longer invest his energy into games that risk disappearing shortly after launch. Highguard, a 3v3 shooter, was shut down just weeks after its January release due to dwindling player numbers and funding issues, mirroring the fate of other live-service titles like Sony's Concord.
NC AMERICA PARTNERS WITH INDEPENDENT DEVELOPER ‘EMPTYVESSEL’ TO PUBLISH DEFECTNC America has partnered with independent developer emptyvessel to publish the close-quarter cyberpunk shooter, DEFECT. This agreement will allow emptyvessel to focus on developing both its multiplayer and single-player gameplay. DEFECT is a team-based, objective-driven first-person shooter set in a dystopian city.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Easter egg cracked open, 18 years after releaseA speedrunner discovered a hidden Easter egg in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, 18 years after its initial release on PlayStation 3. The Easter egg, found by going out of bounds in Chapter 19 using the debug menu, features 'mugshots' of Naughty Dog development team members and is present in both the PS3 and PS4 versions of the game.