Naughty Dog’s Next Game Could “Redefine Mainstream Perceptions of Gaming” – Neil Druckmann

We’re approaching four years since Naughty Dog released its last new game, and even though there’s little to no clarity on how much longer it’ll be before the studio’s next title is out, there’s no short of excitement or curiosity surrounding it- or, more specifically, what exactly it’ll end up being. And though the wait for those details continues, creative director Neil Druckmann – who’s also studio head and head of creative at Naughty Dog – has offered some brief new insight into what it is that Naughty Dog is hoping to achieve with its next title.

Speaking in an interview that was recently published on Sony’s official website, Druckmann described the project he’s currently leading as director as “the most thrilling” one he’s worked on yet, saying that it could potentially “redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming”.

“I’ve been lucky to work on several dream projects and am currently excited about a new one, which is perhaps the most thrilling yet,” said Druckmann. “There’s a growing appreciation for gaming that transcends all age groups, unlike when I was growing up. This shift is highlighted by our venture into television with The Last of Us, which I hoped would bridge the gap between gamers and non-gamers. The show’s success has spotlighted gaming, illustrating the rich, immersive experiences it offers. This visibility excites me not only for our current project but for the broader potential of gaming to captivate a global audience. I’m eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Druckmann also seemed to indicate that the project he was working on was a new IP, calling back to Sony’s willingness to let Naughty Dog work on an entirely new IP in The Last of Us rather than another new Uncharted game back in the day.

“You have to take risks to find new ideas that connect with audiences, and even though Uncharted was a chart-topping success, it was important for our studio to innovate again with a new franchise like The Last of Us,” he said. “Many companies would insist on sticking to profitable franchises, but SIE’s culture and philosophy empower us to pursue new ideas. Art requires risk; You can’t engineer perfectly and predict how successful it will be. I’m incredibly thankful that SIE trusts us to leverage our past successes to explore brand new creative avenues.”

Naughty Dog itself confirmed last year that it had multiple new single-player games in the works, so with leaks having mentioned both a new IP and The Last of Us Part 3, there’s a chance that both projects are in production at the studio (or so we hope, at least).

Naughty Dog has been through a bit of a rough patch of late. Last year, the studio cancelled the long-in-development The Last of Us Online, while shortly afterward, it was hit with layoffs as part of PlayStation’s mass job cuts.