Summary
Naughty Dog, the prestigious AAA studio behind contemporary PlayStation franchises likeThe Last of UsandUncharted, may be plugging away at a new IP. Rumors of a new property from Naughty Dog have been swirling for years now, though they were elevated by last year’s announcement of thecanceledThe Last of Usmultiplayer game, which was accompanied by the news that the studio has more than one single-player project in the oven.
AlthoughThe Last of Us3was essentially confirmed by Neil Druckmann earlier this year, it’s clear that it is in its extremely early stages — essentially pre-pre-development — so it was likely not included in the “multiple single-player games” statement from last year. Naughty Dog may be working on a newUnchartedor evenJak and Daxtergame, but a brand-new IP seems more likely. With Naughty Dog only developing two major IP in the modern age, and with both being somewhat similar in terms of storytelling style and realism, there are benefits to the studio branching out and expanding its creative repertoire with a project that is fundamentally distinct fromThe Last of Us, its leading property in the PlayStation 5 era.
Should Naughty Dog Take Its Next Game in a Different Direction?
The Last of Us Is a Bleak, Depressing Franchise
Mature storytelling sits at the heart ofThe Last of Us. The first game centers on the relationship between a parent and child, with Joel effectively adopting Ellie as his surrogate daughter during their cross-country journey. Meanwhile, the second game shows the destructive lengths that a person can go to, driven by love, guilt, and grief. Naughty Dog deftly handles these themes, producing some of the best-written AAA games on the market.
However, the result of Naughty Dog’s storytelling approach is that, for better or worse,The Last of Uscan be extremely depressing. This is particularly true forThe Last of Us Part 2, which lacks many of the brighter moments of its predecessor and instead focuses more on trauma and the psychological impacts of violence. One can hope that, after everything they have been through, Abby and Ellie can both find some sort of peace at the end of their respective journeys, but this is left up for interpretation. As the credits roll, most players will be left with the sense that irreparable damage has been done, and many will likely feel haunted by everything they have done and witnessed over the course of the story.
Naughty Dog May Want to Tackle Lighter Themes for Its Next Work
Whatever directionNaughty Dog takes withThe Last of Us 3, the developer will likely be looking to continue expanding its portfolio with diverse projects. Few would have been able to predict that the studio behind the fairly family-friendlyCrash BandicootandJak and Daxtergames would go on to release some of the most divisive and violent narrative experiences in gaming, but that’s just what happened. In light of this, Naughty Dog could choose to go back to its roots with its new IP, revisiting 3D platforming systems or cartoon action.
This decision would obviously have the benefit of being refreshing for audiences, but it would also allow Naughty Dog to flex a different side of its literary talents. Ifa new Naughty Dog gamewere more lighthearted, it could hone in on comedy and unfettered creativity, as seen in theUnchartedandJakgames. Taking such a starkly different approach to storytelling might be in Naughty Dog’s best interest, as it would allow for diversification within the market and provide new opportunities for unique storytelling, which would naturally be appealing to many developers. At the same time, Naughty Dog’s modern reputation has been built on the back of realistic graphics and stories, so it would be a major shift to fall back on something more all-ages or fantastical, which could be considered risky.
The Last of Us Part 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Play the winner of over 300 Game of the Year awards, remastered for the PlayStation®5 console. Relive or play for the first time Ellie and Abby’s story, now with graphical enhancements, new gameplay modes like the roguelike survival experience No Return, full DualSense® wireless controller integration, and more. Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closur
