The Last of Us
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Last of Us across the outlets.
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American publishers are ruining the video games industry - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern that American publishers are ruining the video game industry, citing the closure of BioWare and EA's financial practices as evidence. The author contrasts this with the perceived stability of Japanese and European companies, while also noting the potential negative impact of AI on game development and artistry.
With Minecraft and Diablo shows already on the way, Netflix reportedly offered Xbox $500m for a bigger film and TV deal
Netflix and Xbox reportedly failed to reach an agreement for a major film and TV adaptation deal, with Netflix offering $500 million and Xbox countering with $800 million. While this specific large-scale deal fell apart due to the price difference, both companies are still collaborating on other projects like animated series for Minecraft and Diablo, and a Gears of War film.
Resident Evil 7 Team Took Cues From The Last of Us To Garner Critical Acclaim, Says Former Exec
Former Capcom manager Miguel Corti revealed that Resident Evil 7's development shifted focus from Call of Duty-like action to narrative-driven gameplay after the critical success of The Last of Us. This change in direction is credited with revitalizing the Resident Evil franchise, leading to acclaimed titles like Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil Requiem.
The Last of Us inspired Resident Evil 7's course correction because the devs "wanted the critical acclaim other games were garnering," ex-Capcom senior dev says
A former Capcom senior manager revealed that The Last of Us served as an indirect inspiration for Resident Evil 7's course correction, influencing its focus on narrative. Developers reportedly sought the critical acclaim garnered by games like The Last of Us, leading to a more focused and scarier experience compared to Resident Evil 6.
God of War Laufey's £130 Collector Box doesn't come with the game
Sony has announced that the God of War Laufey Collector's Box, priced at £129.99, will not include the game itself. The box, available in limited quantities, features a light-up Faye statue, an Oracle Deck, and a mini artbook. This follows similar trends with collector's editions for Grand Theft Auto 6 and Destiny 2.
The Last of Us directors used to say "nobody" was making "character-driven survival action games" like them – just don't tell that to Resident Evil
The Last of Us directors Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann previously stated that "nobody" was making "character-driven survival action games" like theirs. While Resident Evil existed, Druckmann argued it lacked character focus, being "campy, over-the-top violence." The article notes that the genre has since become more populated with titles like The Plague Tale, Dying Light, and Days Gone, and that even Resident Evil remakes seem to have learned from The Last of Us.
Games Inbox: Was the GTA 6 launch trailer the last one?
Readers discuss the Grand Theft Auto 6 launch trailer, with some feeling it revealed little new information and expressing concern over Rockstar's marketing strategy. Other topics include the generic nature of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's advertising, the challenges of adapting video games into movies, and frustration with Sony's refund policy compared to Steam's.
Former Naughty Dog Developer Believes We Will “Marvel” at Human-Made Games in The Future
Former Naughty Dog developer Matt Radford believes future generations will marvel at the human craftsmanship in today's games, comparing them to ancient architectural wonders. He suggests that advancements in technology and development processes might lead to a decline in the unique artistry seen in titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, as studios like Naughty Dog continue to innovate.
Former Last of Us and Uncharted 4 dev wonders if we'll "look back" at human-made games like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and "marvel at it"
A veteran developer from Naughty Dog, Matt Radford, expressed concern that future generations might look back at current human-made games like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 with awe, similar to ancient cathedrals. He speculates that new technologies, potentially including AI, could fundamentally change game development and reduce the scale of ambitious projects.
Beyond Graphics and Gameplay: What Makes a Video Game Truly Memorable?
A memorable video game transcends impressive graphics and gameplay by fostering emotional connections through compelling characters, meaningful choices, and rewarding challenges. Experiences become lasting when players feel personally involved, whether through character development, impactful decisions, or shared moments with others. The most memorable games offer more than technical prowess; they provide unique, personal experiences that resonate long after playing.
Former Last of Us and Uncharted 4 dev says "the idea of a monolithic GTA 6" or Elder Scrolls 6 is "intimidating," wants more short games instead
Former Naughty Dog developer Matt Radford expressed that monolithic games like Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Elder Scrolls 6 are intimidating, preferring shorter, focused experiences. He cited the time commitment required for long games and the ballooning development budgets as reasons for this preference, though he believes GTA 6 will succeed.
After Zelda: Ocarina of Time, "Nintendo should be even more focused on remakes" to avoid PS5-like game droughts, ex-marketing leads say: "You'll be Sony, you'll have a problem"
Former Nintendo PR leads Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis suggest Nintendo should increase its focus on remakes, citing the success of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as proof of audience interest. They argue that remakes can supplement the Switch 2's library and help avoid the game droughts experienced by platforms like the PlayStation 5, though they caution against over-reliance on them.
Former Last of Us and Uncharted 4 dev has "good and bad" thoughts about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, but he's glad "someone is taking big risks on art like that"
Former Naughty Dog artist Matt Radford, who worked on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, expresses optimism for Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. He acknowledges having both positive and negative thoughts but is glad to see a major studio taking significant artistic risks at a high level, noting that Sony's hardware sales strategy allows Naughty Dog creative freedom.
Naughty Dog crunch could be "grueling" but The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 artist defends the studio, says it wasn't "evil corporation demands horrific working hours"
VFX artist Matt Radford, who worked on Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us, defended Naughty Dog's crunch culture, stating it's not an 'evil corporation' but motivated people pushing for their best work. While admitting to grueling times, he believes great art has come from this suffering, though the article notes this doesn't fully exonerate the studio from potential peer pressure and management expectations.
14 Horror Games It Would Be Terrifying Not To Wishlist
This article highlights 14 upcoming horror games that were featured in the Horror Game Awards' Harvest of Terror showcase. It provides brief descriptions and impressions of each title, encouraging readers to wishlist them, with games like Confronted, Signal Veil, and Echograph noted for their unique mechanics and inspirations.
GameStop, other retailers to sell used PlayStation 5 Pro units for 66 percent over MSRP
Retailers like GameStop are selling used PlayStation 5 Pro units for significantly inflated prices, ranging from $1,399.99 to $1,499.99, a 60-66 percent increase over MSRP. This surge is attributed to high demand, limited supply, and anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6, which is "PS5 Pro Enhanced." Other console manufacturers like Microsoft and Nintendo are also facing hardware shortages and price increases.
Naughty Dog "exists to sell Sony hardware," former Last of Us and Uncharted dev says, so it doesn't have to be as "profit-driven as other companies"
A former Naughty Dog VFX artist suggests the studio exists primarily to sell PlayStation hardware, allowing it to focus on high-quality single-player games rather than being purely profit-driven. This strategy contrasts with the industry trend towards live-service titles, with Sony leveraging exclusive first-party games to boost console sales.
Resident Evil games engagement leapt 50% following release of Zach Cregger's movie, but analysts say real value is in brand building
Player engagement with Resident Evil games saw a 50% increase around the release of Zach Cregger's movie, with daily active users rising from 500,000 to 750,000. Analysts note that while the transmedia impact is measurable, its primary value lies in long-term brand building rather than short-term sales boosts. Discounts also played a significant role in driving engagement, particularly for older titles like Resident Evil 2.
14 years later, Troy Baker is still embarrassed by his Mass Effect 3 role: "There's so many reasons why I shouldn't have played that character"
Actor Troy Baker expressed embarrassment regarding his role as Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3, citing numerous reasons why he felt he shouldn't have played the character. Baker's sentiment mirrors widespread fan criticism of Kai Leng, who is often cited as one of the franchise's most disliked characters due to his design and actions.
The Naughty Dog news has me optimistic about the PS5 again - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses optimism about the future of PlayStation following Naughty Dog's confirmation of multiple new game projects, including two The Last of Us titles and a new Uncharted game. The author criticizes Sony's recent focus on live service games and high budgets, which they believe has led to a decline in game quality and reliability on the PlayStation 5.
