Naughty Dog’s Druckmann: New Project Is the Most Thrilling Yet, May Redefine Mainstream’s Perception of Gaming

Naughty Dog might have hit a snag with The Last of Us Online, which was officially canceled in December 2023 after being labeled the most ambitious project the studio had ever conceived.

Naughty Dog chose to stick with its highly successful formula of making narrative-driven single-player games rather than invest a great deal of the studio's resources for many years in the continued development and support of a live-service game.

Related Story The Last of Us Part II Remastered PC Might Be Announced Soon

Despite this failed endeavor, the studio's millions of fans are still very much looking forward to the next project. Today, Naughty Dog co-president and head of creative Neil Druckmann talked a bit about it in an interview published on Sony's website. Druckmann called it the most thrilling project he has worked on yet and teased it may redefine the mainstream's perception of gaming.

I've been lucky to work on several dream projects and am currently excited about a new one, which is perhaps the most thrilling yet. There's a growing appreciation for gaming that transcends all age groups, unlike when I was growing up. This shift is highlighted by our venture into television with The Last of Us, which I hoped would bridge the gap between gamers and non-gamers. The show's success has spotlighted gaming, illustrating the rich, immersive experiences it offers. This visibility excites me not only for our current project but for the broader potential of gaming to captivate a global audience. I'm eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.

His statement is as intriguing as it is vague. Is he referring to an even bigger focus on cinematic flair and narrative-driven gameplay? Be that as it may, it's probably still going to be a while before we learn anything concrete about Naughty Dog's new game, even though it's been four years already since The Last of Us Part II. Until an