Summary
Naughty Dogis currently at a crossroads. Despite the incredible success of Max’s live adaptation ofThe Last of Us, the developer’s future work is completely shrouded in mystery. Through the years,Naughty Doghas established itself as one of the most influential developers in gaming, but pulling back the reins with its next project may be the best move to get the company back on track.
Since its founding in 1984, Naughty Dog has come an incredibly long way. Although there were a series of games under the developer’s belt, Naughty Dog really hit its stride in the mid-90s with the introduction ofCrash Bandicoot. This game would be the catalyst that made Naughty Dog a staple developer for PlayStation exclusive titles. Since that breakout success,Naughty Dog has birthed some incredible games for PlayStation, likeUnchartedandThe Last of Us. One of the studio’s main calling cards is its affinity for embracing sequels and building franchises, but the company may benefit from a change.
Naughty Dog’s Next Project Should Embrace A Singular Story
SinceCrash Bandicoot’s 1996 release, every original IP Naughty Dog has developed has spawned a variety of sequels or spin-offs. FollowingThe Last of Us 2, Naughty Dog had planned to continue this traditionwithThe Last of Us Online, but this project ultimately fell through. Although the prospect of an online multiplayer version ofThe Last of Uswas exciting, deciding to can the project may have proven to be the best move. Now, Naughty Dog has the perfect opportunity to take a breather before jumping further into an expansive franchise.
A One-Off Naughty Dog Game Could Provide a Breath of Fresh Air
Naughty Dog is incredibly talented at building huge, cinematic worlds, but the studio may have also created its own worst enemy with this method. The story ofThe Last of Us 3is in a tricky spotdue to the massive scale of its world and story-telling, so a one-off title that doesn’t look far ahead into the future may be just what the developer needs.
There have been some recent rumors suggesting thatNaughty Dog’s next gameis a brand-new IP. These claims could very well be false, but if Naughty Dog is indeed set to produce a new IP, a singular story with a small-scale world would be a welcome change of pace. TheUnchartedgames told an incredibly epic adventure with Nathan Drake, andThe Last of Us' main story seems to be reaching its end. A single one-off narrative that has no intention of building upon itself would be an exciting challenge for Naughty Dog to take on.
Naughty Dog Subverting Expectations
For many,The Last of Us 3seems like the next obvious projectfor Naughty Dog. A third entry inThe Last of Usseries needs to happen, but there needs to be plenty of time to craft a satisfying conclusion to Ellie’s story. Naughty Dog’s next original IP could be a great pit stop while the wait forThe Last of Us 3continues.
Naughty Dog’s formula has proven to work incredibly well, but sometimes subverting expectations is the best plan of action to further evolve.The loss ofThe Last of Us Onlineis disappointing, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the iconic developer. It’s been a while since Naughty Dog has introduced a completely new story and characters, and it would be great to see the studio craft a tight-knit world that is well-contained in one title.
The Last Of Us Part II Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
EXPERIENCE ELLIE AND ABBY’S EMOTIONAL JOURNEYS, REMASTERED FOR PS5 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 closure.
