With news and speculation beginning to gain traction around Naughty Dog’s next new IP, should the rumored sci-fi game be a hit, the studio could have a winning formula between it and its survival horrorThe Last of Usseries. Rumors about a new sci-fi IP have been circulating Naughty Dog since it appeared focused more onThe Last of Usthan its earlier seriesUncharted. However, withThe Last of Usfacing risks of fatigue among fans due to several remakes and remasters, a change of pace with a new IP could be what the studio needs to balance its development cycle.
Yet while there are other rumors about the thirdThe Last of Usgame or anUncharted 5, Naughty Dog might benefit from exploring other creative options beyond supernatural and survival horror with its new sci-fi IP. As an alternative to the ongoingThe Last of Ussuccess with its high likelihood of new games and a second season of its TV adaptation, anew IP could offer something new from Naughty Dogbased on speculative details like the game being open-world. Naughty Dog can then split development and releases betweenThe Last of Usand this new IP to maintain the momentum of its success.
After Uncharted and The Last of Us, Naughty Dog’s New Sci-Fi IP Sounds Promising
Since the first PlayStation and the originalCrash Bandicoottrilogy,Naughty Dog has a proven approach to developmentwhich typically produces well-received games, ranging from its follow-upJak and Daxterto the more recentThe Last of Us. However, the studio also has a history of transitioning away from its past franchises and moving on to its next project, but this often favors its newer games and future IPs, leading to their success. For instance, Naughty Dog launchedUncharted: Drake’s Fortuneon the PlayStation 3 with similar success when it releasedCrash Bandicooton the PlayStation andJak and Daxteron the PlayStation 2.
But withUncharted 4: A Thief’s Endappearing to conclude protagonist Nathan Drake’s story and the following attempted spin-off,Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, it seems thatNaughty Dog has remained committed to itsThe Last of Usseries. Despite this, the studio has kept quiet about whether it will continue theUnchartedseries, so rumors about a new IP could indicate that Naughty Dog has plans for where its development will go next. Potentially offering a creative break fromUncharted’s action-adventure andThe Last of Us' post-apocalypse, a sci-fi game could give the studio new development options to explore.
Naughty Dog’s New IP Might Take After The Last of Us
Though details about Naughty Dog’s rumored sci-fi IP are still sparse, this hasn’t prevented theories about how the new game would compare or even work with the studio’s existing series likeThe Last of Us. For example, speculation has already claimed thatNaughty Dog’s new IP could continue its horrortrend due to the studio’s familiarity with the subject matter and gameplay. However, looking back on Naughty Dog’s history of games also suggests that the studio tries to innovate with each new IP it develops, meaning that its rumored sci-fi IP could be significantly different fromThe Last of Usin terms of story, gameplay, and design.
Naughty Dog’s New IP Should Work With The Last of Us, Not Against
But this doesn’t mean that Naughty Dog’s new IP andThe Last of Usshould have an antagonistic relationship, as the studio could establish a healthy development cycle between the two series provided that the new IP is as successful as past games. Even ifNaughty Dog prioritizes its new IPoverThe Last of Usfor now, it could be refreshing for fans and players to alternate away from zombie survival horror every other game. This should help prolong the multimedia lifespan ofThe Last of Uswhile simultaneously generating interest and intrigue around its new IP and the future development of Naughty Dog.
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