Summary
Raf Grassetti, former character artist and Art Director on theGod of Warfranchise, has announced that he will move toNaughty Dogafter a year-long stint at Netflix’s Team Blue studio. Following Team Blue’s recent closure, Grassetti has found a new home atNaughty Dog, another major Sony studio responsible for some of PlayStation’s biggest franchises includingThe Last of UsandUncharted.
Earlier this year,Netflix announced the closure of Team Blue, its ambitious AAA gaming studio. Comprised of industry veterans, including formerOverwatchexecutive producer Chacko Sonny andHalocreative director Joseph Staten, Team Blue was founded in 2022 as the streaming service’s first major attempt to break into the world of AAA gaming. The disbandment of the studio after only two years seems to have put Netflix’s development of in-house titles on hold, causing these big-name developers to seek out new studios.
Raf Grassetti is among the developers leaving Netflix following Team Blue’s closure. Posting on Twitter, the former Santa Monica Studio artist shared the news that he will soon be moving to Naughty Dog. PlayStation gamers will be familiar with Naughty Dog as the creators of some of Sony’s most instantly recognizable franchises from the last three decades, includingCrash Bandicoot,Jak and Daxter,Uncharted, andThe Last of Us. Although Grassetti has not revealed his official position at the studio, he could well be involved inNaughty Dog’s rumored new IP.
God of War Art Director Moving to Naughty Dog
Whatever his role at Naughty Dog, Raf Grassetti undoubtedly brings an impressive portfolio to the table. First joining Sony’s Santa Monica Studio in 2013 as a lead character artist on 2018’sGod of War, Grassetti then acted as Principal Artist and lead Art Director on its sequel, God of War Ragnarok,before moving to Netflix in 2023. Before his work on theGod of Warfranchise, Grassetti worked on several high-profile titles including BioWare’sMass Effect 3and Guerrilla Games’Killzone: Shadow Fall. Grassetti has also enjoyed a successful artistic career outside of gaming, working on a number of Marvel, DC, Image, and Boom! Studios comics.
While Grassetti is moving on to a “new chapter” in his career, his former studio is also moving on to new horizons, asSanta Monica Studio is reportedly working on its first new IPin 20 years. After focusing on the incredibly successfulGod of Warfranchise for two decades, the LA-based studio is now working on a “next-generation narrative combat game” seemingly for the PlayStation 6. Combined with Naughty Dog’s upcoming projects, PlayStation gamers certainly have a lot to look forward to in the next few years.
