Since the release ofThe Last of Us’final chapter back in 2020, speculation has run rampant aboutNaughty Dog’s next big project. Of course,Naughty Dog’s continued focus onThe Last of Usthrough remakes, remasters, and a wildly successful TV show adaptation has resulted in a lot of discussion being centered on a third entry in the trilogy, but Naughty Dog has also confirmed that it is working on something else.
The Last of Us 3has been confirmed as well, but it will likely come after this newNaughty Dogproject, as it is reportedly still in pre-production.
The possibility of Naughty Dog pushing ahead with a new IP is tantalizing, especially because the studio has been defined by little more thanThe Last of UsandUnchartedfor the better part of two decades. These are great series, but they are also a far cry from the more over-the-top and less restrained IP of the studio’s past, likeJak & DaxterandCrash Bandicoot. Players may never see a return to these sorts of Naughty Dog titles, but a pivot away from the now-ubiquitousThe Last of UsandUnchartedfranchises could make for exciting and original games with the potential to redefine the studio moving forward.
Naughty Dog Could Be Making a Science Fiction Game
Sci-Fi Rumors Suggest a Radical Shift from The Last of Us
Though a lot of “evidence” fora new sci-fi game from Naughty Dog is shaky at best, it’s not an inherently ridiculous idea. After all,The Last of Usis technically sci-fi, in the sense that fictional biological elements comprise the backbone of its premise, but it omits the tropes and high-concept storytelling so often associated with the genre. Some of Naughty Dog’s older, all-ages games likeJak & Daxteralso incorporated science fiction elements, but they were substantially watered down.
A Science Fiction Game Could Be the Dose of Originality Naughty Dog Needs
WithNaughty Dog reportedly working on a new IP, it would be nice to see it move away from the overly realistic, Hollywood-inspired characteristics of its most popular titles. Subtle character writing, conversational dialog, and emotional intimacy are all great, but there’s room for more cerebral, intellectual stories in the company’s portfolio as well.
Adapting the verisimilitude andcinematic qualities of series likeThe Last of UsandUnchartedto a more fantastical premise could lead to a game that is equal parts moving and thought-provoking, invoking the best aspects of both interpersonal and sci-fi narratives. Through the science-fiction framework, Naughty Dog could better explore themes that it clearly already has an interest in, such as the value of human life, the role of government control in society, and public health.
There is a notion among some audiences that science fiction is somehow less refined or sophisticated than more grounded stories, but that has been proven false time and time again. A creatively untethered sci-fi story has just as much potential to be emotional and heartwrenching as a more sober, character-driven story, and withNaughty Dog’s proven track record for penning compelling narrativeswith likable characters at the forefront, the sci-fi genre could be the perfect place for it to make its mark.
Hard-hitting andwell-written sci-fi franchises like Mass Effect andDead Spacehave been long dormant, so Naughty Dog throwing its hat into the ring could be just what the genre needs. Moreover, it could be precisely what Naughty Dog needs, as the studio may be in danger of becoming too defined by justThe Last of Us, its most widely recognized series.
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.
