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Shuhei Yoshida Says Former SIE CEO Wanted to Remove Him From First-Party Development
Shuhei Yoshida revealed in an interview that former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan removed him from his first-party development role in 2019 because Yoshida refused to follow Ryan's "ridiculous" requests. Yoshida, who had led first-party development for 11 years and worked on titles like Ghost of Tsushima, was then moved to support indie game development. He stated that this transition was more significant to him personally than leaving the company later to work freelance, where he now has the freedom to discuss other platforms like Nintendo and Xbox.
HBO's The Last of Us TV show casts Yara and Lev's mother, Miriam
Li Jun Li has been cast as Miriam, the mother of Yara and Lev, in the third season of HBO's "The Last of Us." The upcoming season will shift focus to Abby's storyline and introduce new characters, with filming having recently begun. Neil Druckmann, a co-showrunner for the series, will be stepping back to focus on game development.
Neil Druckmann Hints at The Last of Us Part III Immune Colony Storyline
Neil Druckmann has hinted that The Last of Us Part III could explore a community of immune individuals, shifting the focus from Joel and Ellie to multiple characters. This potential direction raises questions about societal structures and the implications for the established lore. While Naughty Dog has not officially confirmed any details, these concepts suggest a serious consideration for the franchise's future.
The Last of Us Part 3 theories get hotter as a former Naughty Dog dev claims Neil Druckmann has plans for "a whole…
A former Naughty Dog developer suggests that co-director Neil Druckmann has ideas for The Last of Us Part 3 involving a group of immune survivors. While the game is not officially in development, these claims fuel speculation about potential story directions, including expanding on the concept of immunity beyond Ellie.
OG Last of Us designer is still "pissed" about Naughty Dog re-doing his work for the remake: "It is literally taking my scripts, pushing delete, and putting all new scripts in"
Original The Last of Us combat designer Benson Russell expressed frustration with Naughty Dog's remake, The Last of Us Part I, stating it replaces his original scripts and work. Russell feels the remake, which he calls a "sour spot," disrespects the effort put into the original game by presenting itself as the definitive version.
'I Feel Like I Just Got Started': The Last of Us' Troy Baker Says the Best Is Yet to Come at 50
Voice actor Troy Baker, known for his roles in The Last of Us and Death Stranding, feels he is just beginning his career despite turning 50. He believes his best work is still ahead of him and aims to apply lessons learned from each project to future endeavors. Baker expressed gratitude for his career thus far, stating he would be content if his current opportunities were his last.
Sony's MIA Live-Service Game Is Going In The Exact Direction You'd Expect
New details have emerged regarding Sony's upcoming live-service game, Fairgame$, including its 'Cargo Heist' game mode and free-to-play business model with microtransactions. The game, which focuses on players acting as modern-day Robin Hoods against billionaires, has seen several key developers depart its studio, Haven. Sony has faced challenges with its live-service strategy, with cancellations and failures like Concord following initial investments, though Helldivers 2 achieved significant success.
Despite starring in The Last of Us, Death Stranding, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and many more, Troy Baker feels like he "just got started" and "my best work is ahead of me"
Voice actor Troy Baker, known for his roles in The Last of Us, Death Stranding, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, feels his career is just beginning and his best work is still ahead. Despite a prolific two-decade career, Baker views each role as a learning opportunity to improve his craft for future performances. He expressed gratitude for his career thus far and stated he would be content if his current work represents the entirety of his contributions to the industry.
Former Naughty Dog Dev Recalls Crunch Culture for Games Like The Last of Us and Uncharted
Former Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell shared insights into the studio's past crunch culture, suggesting it was perceived as necessary for developing games like The Last of Us and Uncharted. Russell's comments highlight the intense work environments that have historically been part of AAA game development.
Naughty Dog Embraced Crunch Culture After The Last of Us, as It's 'What It Takes to Make Games at Our Level'
Former Naughty Dog employee Benson Russell stated that the studio embraced crunch culture after The Last of Us, viewing it as necessary for developing games at their level. He explained that while not legally mandated, crunch is incentivized through bonuses, and employees are implicitly expected to participate or seek employment elsewhere. The studio reportedly treats internal deadlines as external ones, contributing to the demanding work environment.
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 Place
A 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 it
A 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.
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.
The Last of Us Online’s Cancellation Was a Good Decision, Says Microsoft Game Studios Co-Founder
Microsoft 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 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 says
Former 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 Claimed
Sony 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 Snoop
A 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 COVID
According 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.
