The builders behind God Of War and The Last Of Us each appear to be gearing up for brand spanking new bulletins, however what may their subsequent video games be?
It’s been over 4 years since developer Naughty Dog launched The Last Of Us Part 2 and we’re nonetheless at nighttime about what the studio’s subsequent authentic venture is.
The state of affairs at Naughty Dog has been difficult by numerous remasters and a cancelled multiplayer The Last Of Us spin-off, together with numerous rounds of layoffs, however we do know that ‘a number of’ single-player video games are in improvement on the studio in the mean time.
While little is understood about these tasks, Naughty Dog has not too long ago employed an business veteran to work on a minimum of certainly one of them: God Of War’s Rafael Grassetti.
In a put up on Instagram, Grassetti, who labored as an artwork director at Santa Monica Studio on the current God Of War video games, wrote: ‘I’m tremendous excited to be becoming a member of the wonderful crew and venture over at @naughty_dog_inc, and to be again to PlayStation!
‘I’m becoming a member of Neil Druckmann and his crew as Art Director, to assist create the following large factor! An enormous because of everyone who was concerned on making this occur and all my pals from sister studios. I’m hyped and might’t wait to share extra about it!’
In a put up asserting the transfer on X, he merely wrote ‘New chapter’ alongside the Naughty Dog emblem.
He joined Netflix’s Team Blue studio shortly afterwards, which was shut down earlier than it had even launched a sport in October this yr.
What is the following sport from Naughty Dog?
Sony has not introduced Naughty Dog’s subsequent venture, however in a weblog put up from December final yr the studio confirmed it’s engaged on ‘a couple of bold, model new single-player sport’.
Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann later acknowledged in February 2024 {that a} idea for The Last Of Us Part 3 exists, implying that the sequel isn’t one of many aforementioned tasks in improvement.
As for what the following venture is, Druckmann has solely given teasing snippets. In an interview with Sony, he described it as ‘one thing actually contemporary for us’ suggesting it’s a new IP, and mentioned it’s ‘possibly probably the most excited I’ve been for a venture but’.
While particulars are low, we positively know actor Troy Baker, who portrayed Joel in The Last Of Us, is concerned in Druckmann’s subsequent sport. As confirmed in a profile interview of the actor on GQ, Druckmann mentioned: ‘In a heartbeat I might all the time work with Troy.’
There have been rumours that one of many new video games is a fantasy-based title involving dragons, however that is based mostly on little greater than a supposed Easter egg in The Last Of Us Part 1.
What is the following sport from Santa Monica Studio?
Following 2022’s God Of War Ragnarök and its subsequent Valhalla DLC, it’s unclear what Santa Monica Studio is engaged on subsequent.
However, numerous LinkedIn posts from builders and job listings point out it’s a new IP, and never one other God Of War sport. The studio has lengthy beenrumoured to be growing a sci-fi venture of some variety, though one beforehand existed over a decade in the past codenamed Darkside, which was later scrapped.
Back in 2022, Santa Monica Studio said it’s ‘unfold out on quite a lot of various things’, indicating it might be juggling a number of tasks too. This, nevertheless, was earlier than the launch of Ragnarök’s Valhalla DLC.
It may additionally have been a reference to the assistance Santa Monica Studio provides to different first and third celebration builders engaged on video games for Sony, though the studio has appeared to slowly transfer away from that position in recent times.
The studio’s inventive director, Cory Barlog, last tweeted about his venture in March, writing: ‘Seeing some early issues coming collectively on this factor I’m engaged on proper now and GOD DAMN the folks I get to work with at Sony Santa Monica are simply f***ing past good.’
Although it could be slightly early to listen to about Santa Monica’s subsequent venture, as God Of War Ragnarök was solely two years in the past, it looks like we’re maybe overdue an replace on Naughty Dog’s subsequent venture.
As such, it’s very attainable we may see one thing at The Game Awards, which kicks off at 12.30am on Friday, December 13 within the UK; particularly as The Last Of Us Online was introduced on the associated Summer Game Fest occasion.
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