In a recent sitdown with The New Yorker, the co-CEO of Naughty Dog offered a glimpse of the upcoming new IP. As Druckman talked about keeping the integrity of the story for the upcoming HBO adaptation of Last Of Us, Neil mentioned that his next project is going to be structured more like a TV Show rather than anything previously seen from the studio. Druckman would go on to elaborate on the creative process, claiming he wasn’t developing the script alone. He revealed that for Naughty Dog’s next endeavor a room full of writers is being assembled. Despite his failure to provide any more context beyond this initial statement, it’s safe to assume that Naughty Dog will double down on their storytelling and cinematic gameplay. So far, Naughty Dog has done this successfully with zero compromises to gameplay quality, but only time will tell if this new venture will stick to tradition. The studio’s older attempts at bridging the gap between these two aspects are what made them successful. The studio had built its reputation with the cinematic Uncharted franchise but exploded onto the scene with an even higher peak with Last Of Us. Uncharted recently received its Hollywood debut, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, while the HBO adaptation for Last Of Us should start airing very soon. The article ends with director Neil Druckman recalling how he surprised his team multiple times by securing the services of notable figures in the film and television industry, for the development of his games. Oscar award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla was the first example, as he helped foster the soundtrack for the first Last Of Us game. He was then followed up by Westworld’s Halley Gross, who was recruited to co-write the sequel. Some of their stories are still unmatched to this day, despite many trying to replicate the winning formula. Looking at recent PlayStation success stories like God of War, it’s clear how they’ve taken a page out of Naughty Dog’s book. Speaking of Naughty Dog, Sony has reportedly greenlit a new Uncharted game, specifically, a reboot. But, for the first time in series history, the next Uncharted game will not be made by Naughty Dog.
