The Last of Us
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Last of Us across the outlets.- Former Naughty Dog Dev Recalls Crunch Culture for Games Like The Last of Us and UnchartedFormer 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.
Pragmata Review - Fly me to the moonPragmata is a sci-fi action adventure set on the moon, featuring protagonist Hugh Williams and his AI companion Diana. Despite a lackluster story, the game excels with its moody atmosphere, engaging combat that incorporates hacking, and a strong bond between the characters. The title offers robust side content and post-game activities, making it a worthy, albeit familiar, experience from Capcom.- Pragmata review – To the moon and backPragmata is an impressive and innovative new IP from Capcom that offers a heartwarming story and engaging gameplay loop. Set on the Moon, the game follows protagonist Hugh Williams and a sentient android named Diana as they uncover the mysteries of a rogue AI and a valuable new ore. The dual gameplay system, combining Hugh's combat with Diana's hacking abilities, creates a satisfying experience, and the emotional bond between the characters is a standout feature.
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.
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.
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.- Marauding minotaurs, more CloverPit and other new indie games worth checking outThis article rounds up several new and upcoming indie games, highlighting titles like the roguelite Minos, the CloverPit DLC Unholy Fusion, and the battle royale typing game Final Sentence. It also features previews for People of Note, Tamashika, Nippets, Dead As Disco, Call of the Elder Gods, and Long Gone, covering their gameplay, platforms, and release details.
After Johnny Cage, Karl Urban Wants To Play Another Famous John In A Video Game MovieActor Karl Urban, who will play Johnny Cage in the upcoming Street Fighter movie, expressed his desire to portray John Marston in a potential Red Dead Redemption film or TV adaptation. Urban cited Red Dead Redemption as one of his favorite games and mentioned his past role in the Doom movie. The article also touches on Take-Two Interactive's cautious approach to licensing its intellectual properties for adaptations, citing past successes and failures.
PlayStation invites fans to get their likeness scanned in its latest initiativeSony Interactive Entertainment has launched The Playerbase program, allowing fans to submit applications for their likeness to be scanned into PlayStation games, starting with Gran Turismo 7. The initiative aims to celebrate the gaming community by bringing devoted fans closer to the PlayStation experience, with winners potentially appearing as in-game characters. While some fans express skepticism about the program's exclusivity and potential AI involvement, applications are open until April 26, 2026.
Opinion: Sony's 'Playerbase' Is a Weak and Weird Way to Celebrate PS5 FansSony's new 'Playerbase' initiative, which offers fans a chance to have their likeness scanned for Gran Turismo 7 or potentially appear in other games, is criticized as a weak and unusual way to celebrate the PlayStation community. The author questions the transparency around data usage and suggests alternative methods like PS Stars for genuine fan recognition.
Gaming Now Drives 60% of Sony’s Revenue as PlayStation Dominates EntertainmentSony's entertainment business now accounts for over 60% of its total revenue, a significant increase from 30% in 2014, with gaming being the primary driver. The company aims for PlayStation to be the premier platform for both players and third-party developers. This strategic shift emphasizes software sales and services, leading to expanded investments in first-party studios, PC gaming, and media adaptations of game properties.
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.
Leaked Elden Ring movie set looks even more authentic than Super Mario GalaxyLeaked footage from the Elden Ring movie set, directed by Alex Garland, showcases authentic recreations of in-game locations like the Fourth Church of Marika. Garland, a self-proclaimed fan who has played Elden Ring multiple times, is reportedly aiming for a faithful adaptation, a rarity in video game movies. The article also briefly mentions other game adaptations and potential Nintendo Switch releases.
RPCS3 Breakthrough Enhances Performance for All PS3 Games - GameHauntThe RPCS3 PlayStation 3 emulator received a significant performance patch on December 12, 2024, improving SPU emulation for the Cell processor. This update provides a 5-7% frame rate increase in demanding titles like Twisted Metal across all PC hardware. The optimization enhances emulation efficiency by generating more streamlined machine code for modern CPUs.
Board Games for Video Gamers: Tabletop That Feels Like Your Favorite GamesThis guide matches board games to popular video game genres, suggesting titles like Slay the Spire: The Board Game for roguelike fans and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for action RPG players. It emphasizes that many board games offer similar strategic depth and satisfying loops to video games, often with a lower time commitment and a unique social element.
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.
The Baldur's Gate HBO Show: What We Know and Why Fans Are Freaking OuHBO is developing a live-action television series based on Baldur's Gate 3, with Craig Mazin attached as showrunner. The series, titled "Baldur's Gate," will serve as a sequel to the game's events, featuring both new and familiar characters, though Larian Studios has no formal involvement. The adaptation faces challenges due to the game's numerous ending variations, but Mazin's deep fandom and HBO's track record offer some optimism.
Mass Effect Fans Worried as TV Scripts Get ‘Non-Gamer’ RewriteFans are concerned about the upcoming Mass Effect TV adaptation after reports that scripts are being rewritten to appeal to 'non-gamers.' This approach contrasts with successful adaptations like The Last of Us, which respected the source material's narrative depth. The gaming community fears this could dilute the complex themes and player-driven choices that define the Mass Effect franchise.- PlayStation Studios Quietly Removes PC References From WebsitePlayStation Studios has removed nearly all references to PC gaming from its official websites, causing concern among PC players about Sony's commitment to the platform. This move follows the release of several PlayStation exclusives on PC, such as God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn, and raises questions about future PC ports and Sony's overall platform strategy.
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.