Naughty Dog has worked on a few IPs over its lifespan, but it’s currently best known forThe Last of Us. With a television series and a multiplayer game coming up, fans have plenty to please them. There have also been recent rumors that there may be a thirdThe Last of Usgame in development.This is good news for franchise fans, but it would be an odd move for the studio. If the rumor is true, it suggests Naughty Dog is putting all its eggs in one basket withThe Last of Us. It also brings to question the other original IP that the studio has been rumored to be working on.RELATED:Ashley Johnson’s The Last of Us HBO Character Could Mark the Biggest Departure from the Games
Is The Last of Us Part 3 in Development?
There has been plenty of evidence that Naughty Dog is quite busy. In addition toThe Last of Usmultiplayer title that gamers have been patiently waiting for, there have been rumors swirling around that the studio is working on a new game. This has been motivated by cryptic tweets from Druckmann and job listings from Naughty Dog. The curiosity surrounding what the studio is up to has been heightened by a recent interview Druckmann did with New Yorker. He revealed thatNaughty Dog’s next game will be structured like a TV showand that the script will be written by an entire writer’s room.
In a Tweet by a prominent leaker @ViewerAnon, it was claimed thatNaughty Dog is working onThe Last of Us Part 3. Although this is not an official confirmation, the leaker has previously revealed details about the upcomingThe Last of Ustelevision adaptation. This should be exciting news for fans of the franchise. However, it does leave gamers with a lot of questions regarding the future of Naughty Dog and its IPs.
Is Naughty Dog Sticking to One IP?
Over the years, Naughty Dog has worked on quite a few IPs, includingCrash Bandicoot,Jak and Daxter, andUncharted. For a while, after the release ofThe Last of Us 2, there were murmurs that the studio is working on a new IP. Some rumors suggested that it may be a sci-fi game, perhaps one based on theSavage Starlightseries mentioned inThe Last of Us. The news that the next game from the studio may be anotherThe Last of Usgame could throw a wrench in that theory. If the leaker is correct, it could be an indication that Naughty Dog is moving toward throwing all its weight behindThe Last of Us. With this in mind, it is worth remembering that Naughty Dog is a large studio, and it could be working on multiple games simultaneously, though the studio likely unites for a franchise as important asThe Last of Us.
Is It Truly Over For Uncharted?
It has been a few years since gamers have enjoyed a newUnchartedgame. Naughty Dog has continued to show interest in the franchise through theUnchartedmovie and theLegacy of Thievescollection which brought the franchise to PC. These activities have had gamers hoping that maybe they would be getting one more adventure fromUncharted. If the leak is true, it appears thatNaughty Dog has mostly abandoned Nathan Drakefor Ellie and that gamers should be expecting zombies instead of treasure hunting in the studio’s future.
Because the information is not coming from an official source, gamers should take it with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, it does raise questions regarding the studio’s future. Although the success ofThe Last of Uscannot be denied, having the studio focus on one IP could be a risky move should the franchise fall out of favor. It also results in other belovedfranchises such asUnchartedgetting neglected.
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