Naughty Dogis a studio that has constantly shipped some of the most critically acclaimed video game titles in the world. Its most recent endeavor is perhaps its biggest feat.The Last of Us 2surpassedThe Witcher 3to become themost awarded video game of all time.
With the game’s first anniversary right around the corner, fans have started to speculate what the studio’s next big project would be. Some rumors suggest thatNaughty Dogis working on a new sci-fi IP calledStray’s Cross, whereas according to recent reports, Naughty Dog is working onThe Last of Us Remakefor the PS5. While both projects could be concurrently in development at Naughty Dog, the allegedStray’s Crossshould release beforeThe Last of Us Remake.
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The Need For a Next-Gen Only New IP From Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog’s games are some of themost visually impressive titlesthat have graced Sony’s consoles. In 2007,Uncharted: Drake’s Fortuneblew many away by its photorealistic visuals and highly detailed character models. The subsequent entries in theUncharted series, as well as the recently releasedThe Last of Us 2, only amped up the visuals.
Naughty Dog’s games have always been a treat to look at, though it’s the narrative and the well-written characters that usually steal the show. However, these aren’t Naughty Dog’s only strengths. The studio’s ability to improvise with every new project is what it does best and what makes it one of the most successful game studios in the world.
Naughty Dog has worked on multiple franchises over the years, and it knows well when to transition from one to another. The firstCrash Bandicootwas released when 3D platformers weren’t common.Uncharted: Drake’s Fortunewas released when the video game industry needed morecinematic action gameswith elaborate set pieces.The Last of Usarrived when narrative and performances in video games had started being taken seriously.
The current generation of AAA games hasn’t leaned too heavily in the sci-fi genre, especially new IPs. The success ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderandMass Effect: Legendary Editionproves that fans want more single-player narrative-driven sci-fi experiences. Bethesda’s highly mysteriousStarfieldseems ready to fill the gap though Bethesda games have often prioritized open-world exploration over deep character development.Stray’s Crosscould be different fromStarfield, and couldvery well be the next-gen linear story-driven sci-fi single-player games fans want.
WithThe Last of Us 2, Naughty Dog has achieved unprecedented success, and whileThe Last of Us 3could happenat some point in time, Naughty Dog’s past does enough to indicate that the studio would likely take a break from the franchise. Interestingly, most of the PS5’s upcoming first-party exclusives seem to be cross-gen titles, includingGod of War RagnarokandGran Turismo 7. Bringing these titles to the PS4 makes sense as these are sequels to long-running franchises whose development kicked off on the last-gen tech.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s current strategy seems to be releasing new experimental IPs and the sequels to less popular franchises exclusively on the PS5 while balancing these out by making the sequels to its most popular franchises cross-gen titles. Naughty Dog’sStray’s Crossfalls in the former category as it has the opportunity to not just be a fresh new IP in a genre in demand but also be a title that would utilize the full potential of the PS5, making it the definitive console seller.
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The Last of Us Remake Dilemma
Several recent reports have seemingly confirmed that aremake of 2013’sThe Last of Usis in development. According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Sony’s Visual Arts Service Group was leading the development ofThe Last of Us Remakeuntil Naughty Dog got involved. It isn’t clear how much of Naughty Dog’s staff is currently working on this project, though according to Schreier,The Last of Us Remakeis the only project in full-production at Naughty Dog. Sadly, the studio may be in a tricky position ifThe Last of Us Remakeis indeed its next big thing.
Remakes are essential in the video game space as they allow new players to experience the modernized version of cult classic titles while letting the older fans savor in the nostalgia.The Last of Us Remakecould make a few worthwhile changes, though now doesn’t seem like the best time for that. It wouldn’t make sense for Naughty Dog to release a remake of a modern game in the next couple of years, especially in a time when fans would still be engrossed inThe last of Us 2, the possible multiplayer expansion, and the upcoming TV adaptation. As mentioned before, Naughty Dog’s biggest strength is its ability to improvise and adapt at the right time, and releasingThe Last of Us Remakeanytime soon seems absurd.
The Last of Us Remakeseems like a project that would be well suited in something likeThe Last of Usbundle, a few years down the line that comes packed withThe Last of Us 2and its multiplayer counterpart. If Naughty Dog’s release schedule is any indication, fans shouldn’t expect any big AAA project until 2023. By then, the PS5 scarcity would hopefully cease, and more fans would be able to transition to the next-gen system.Stray’s Crosscould be that ultimate next-gen experiencethat the PS5 fans would want to have at launch.
As forThe Last of Us Remake, it would make sense if Naughty Dog held back on it for a while and focus on releasing it around 2024-25. Until then, the originalThe Last of Uscould start to feel like a dated experience, and there would be enough time gap between the two for players to actually crave for a remake.
Whether Naughty Dog’s next big project is a new IP or itsThe Last of Us Remakeremains to be seen and is something that fans won’t get to know anytime soon. The studio’s only known project is themultiplayer aspect ofThe Last of Us 2, which itself could be years away.
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