Update: After some comments by Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann were misconstrued, The Last of Us director has confirmed that he’s established a writers’ room to allow for more collaboration on upcoming PS5 games. A New Yorker article had previously said that the Santa Monica studio’s future projects would be “structured more like a TV show”, although as we pointed out in our article, this was more referring to the approach the outfit’s taking towards development.
“It’s about making our games in an even more collaborative manner,” he explained. “[I’m stoked to show you our projects as soon as we can!”
Original Story: We know that, in addition to standalone multiplayer game The Last of Us Factions, developer Naughty Dog has a second project in production. This is rumoured to be a third instalment in the studio’s post-apocalyptic property, although the Santa Monica-based studio is keeping its cards close to its chest. There is one tiny tidbit as part of the conclusion to a sprawling New Yorker interview about HBO’s upcoming television adaptation, however.
The article ends by reflecting on director Neil Druckmann’s approach to making games. It mentions how he surprised teammates by enlisting Oscar award winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla to score the soundtrack to the first The Last of Us game, and then went on to recruit Westworld’s Halley Gross to co-write its sequel. Apparently, he’s continuing to hire from film and television, with one of the cinematographers from HBO’s show being told “the door is open” should they choose to jump mediums.
The feature concludes that “his next project” is a game that is “structured more like a TV show” than anything Naughty Dog’s made before. It concludes that he isn’t “writing the script alone, or with a single partner” but is instead “assembling a writers’ room”. So, it sounds like there will be a lot of writers collaborating on whatever game the developer makes next, which seems like a logical step to us.
It should be noted that the article does not appear to be suggesting Naughty Dog’s next game will be episodic – this very much seems to be about the approach the developer’s taking to making it. Clearly Druckmann has been massively influenced by his work on HBO’s television adaptation, and it’d certainly make sense for him to integrate some of things he’s learned from that back into his day job as a game creator.
[source newyorker.com]
Comments 75
I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for video games...
Logical, games are very much similar to film and TV in many ways, especially now. So to bring those into the game world does make sense. And I suppose they want to make gaming more cinematic (which they already do) so pushing gaming forward is only a good thing.
Sounds like an awful idea.
as long as its more game than cinematic cut scenes i will hear them out.
@stvevan That's what I'd be worried about.
Last of Us already had a very episodic feel to begin with so not sure how much different this could be.
@TowaHerschel7 lol 😂! where have you been ? but then again , that statement could just only be for sony exclusives .
this has already been done too - quantum break
I mean, assembling a writer's room makes sense. Games often last longer than most contemporary television seasons. I think it makes sense to have a diversity of opinions and perspectives included in the process.
Unless you are truly a singular talent, which not many are, then it makes sense to get assistance from other talented individuals to flesh out (and smooth out) a long form story.
Hmmm. I wouldn't have faith if lesser men took this approach, but I'll give the NAUGHTY GAWDS the benefit of doubt
Have to agree with some of the comments about cinematic gaming - I have started to really wonder whether games are going in the wrong direction. Even GoW Ragnarok (excellent as it is) often feels like your input is fairly secondary to the story.
Been saying for years they should just stop making games entirely and focus on animated TV shows. The Naughty Dog game formula is tired and it's clear the gameplay is secondary and kind of a nuisance for them at this point. TLOU2 was basically a bunch of chores along a hallway to the next cutscene. And that's the one that has an "open world" area. So what does that mean for this game? Just leave the games behind. They could make some killer TV shows for Sony's Crunchyroll anime empire.
I’m a little bored with overly cinematic games and Elden Ring definitely showed that new technologies could be applied in a gameplay-first manner. Hopefully the new Zelda carries that torch.
Color me skeptical. As a gamer since the genesis and Super Nintendo days, gameplay is most important to me. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy a great story and have loved naughty dog since the days of crash bandicoot, but this might be a tilt towards something against my preference.
Story first always
Naughty Dog games have such fun gunplay combat that even a terrible player like me can have fun. I hope this doesn’t take away from the actual gameplay just to make it look prettier.
I'm honestly surprised a writers room isn't a common thing in games already. Why wouldn't you want input on the story you're writing?
This seems like maybe it’s about Factions like how live service games have seasons? I’m pretty sure ND said that factions would incorporate story.
Also there’s nothing wrong with having a writers room. It’s the natural progression imo. Some of the greatest skits you’d see in SNL or The Simpsons wouldn’t have been possible if it’s 1 or 2 guys writing the entire show.
Might be good for Neil to have other voices around.
@Milktastrophe Beat me to it by seconds. Games make way more money than movies or TV shows at this point. It’s only natural that games are going to push story telling forward in the future.
As long as they remember they are making a game.
I really liked the TLOU2, one of the best games I have experienced. But ND is dangerously close to going back to the well too many times. They really need to do something completely new. I think Playstation overall is in need of new IPs. I know it is very risky, but they have the talent to do it. They just need to make the leap of faith.
@MFTWrecks Same here! I wish more game studios took this approach tbh.
I literally buy a PS console for Naughty Dog and Santa Monica studio games. So anything they do has my attention. Let’s hope they have something exciting to share in 2023 news wise. Also i really want to know what Factions is.
TV TV TV that worked out well for xbox one
I cant wait! they are top of the tree in terms of quality (cutscenes and gameplay). All these people moaning about too much story? Where was this energy with the witcher 3?
Must be because its naughty dog eh?... Again
@trev666 - The difference here is that Sony at least has more experience in the Movie/TV department than Xbox did
@MFTWrecks - Brilliantly said, this writer's room approach sounds like it would go hand-in-hand with Sony's approach with Story-Driven games, I can't really see any downside to this.
@JGruns Same here. My friend keeps going on about how he wants a great story in a game. I said to read a book or watch a film. Gameplay should always come first in a game (the clue is in the title), otherwise you can just watch a play through on YouTube. A great story with characters can help but it's not the be all end all.
Funny. I already "watch" all their games since Uncharted 3 on YouTube, since I find that more entertaining and am not interested in their kind of gameplay anyway. So yeah, works for me xD
We have a saying in Bulgaria - many grannies, weak baby.
Was hoping TLoU2 would be the end.
@TowaHerschel7 In a video game world of shovelware, MT-ridden grinding and Open World busywork, it's writer's rooms that has you worried?
@Nexozi Why?
This could lead to better pacing and more focus on varied stories or storylines.
On the other hand if done badly it could lead to a bloated and convoluted story.
With TLOU, they pushed the industry forward with storytelling so I guess chances are they'll do it again here
@JustPlainLoco yes sony have more experience in tv and film doesnt mean they still cant make absolute garbage like the best of them
Morbius just wow
Most people here are missing the point of the article. Granted it's titled in such a way that makes it very clickbait-y (shame on you Push Square). But as is mentioned in the article's last paragraph, what is more TV show like is the approach to making the game, not how the game is going to be presented to the players when it's done.
@Benjiro I would argue sony are more successful making games than movies or tv
Yeah… Doesn’t surprise me. Neil Drunkmann is basically a tv show drama actor
Yeah, because what gaming is in dire need of is aping other media, as if their games weren't rote enough from a gameplay standpoint 🤦🏼♂️
The sad things is casuals will still call their games "the pinnacle of the industry" or some nonsense like that, just because they have beautiful graphics and a well-acted story, while the gameplay side of things languishes in a corner.
@trev666 - True, you're not wrong, but having that experience alone is certainly better than not having it. Yeah there's no denying Sony has put out some absolute garbage movies, but I would argue PlayStation creates better more compelling stories with even greater well-written characters than Sony's own movie division.
Xbox's TV TV TV push was unnecessary and a rather 'out-of-the-blue' novelty that no gamer was even asking for, but ultimately it was harmless, it's the DRM/Always Online nonsense that really damaged Xbox's reputation.
I feel like less is more with game stories. Half-life & Soulsborne games are great examples of world building that is simple, powerful, and evocative... and will be remembered long after any overpriced Hollywood shenanigans.
Im going to file this one under, not for me.
Smells like hubris to me
@Octane Don't get me wrong, I love games with great stories. However, I want to play the game. Not watch hours and hours of cutscenes.
@Fight_Teza_Fight 'Might be good for Neil to have other voices around.' good old Neil won't allow other voices unless they share the exact same views as him 😂
This is why I don't like most of Sony's exclusives.
Gameplay will always be more important to me than story...because I like to play my games, not just watch them. I'm all for cinematic games, but I hate it when developers let that compromise the actual game. Most stories in games aren't even that great when you compare them to film, anyways.
What so quantum break? Been there done that
What’s the jackanory? Don’t care, just lumme game
Having too many minds to write a game it causes problems, that's why American tv shows suck on the average because they try too much to appease everyone.
I get the artist perspective of collaborating to enrich something, but too much sugar can make a piece of cake taste like crap.
@Nexozi I bet 90-95% of the game is pure gameplay. The cutscenes are around 1.5 hours, and the game took me around 30-35 hours to beat.
@Octane They're not talking about the last game. They're talking about the next one.
I’m just not excited for ND’s next project, whatever it is. Happy to be proven wrong but as of right now, they’re Sony’s least exciting first party studio. Which is crazy because a few years ago they were considered the best.
@CieloAzure American TV shows suck on average just as much as British tv shows suck on average, there's just so many more American shows than most other countries' offerings. There's plenty of incredible American shows, like Yellowjackets and Severance, both of which should be having second seasons soon.
“A New Yorker article had previously said that the Santa Monica studio’s future projects would be “structured more like a TV show””
TF? Didn’t you read your own article?
The rumor was for Naughty Dog not Santa Monica.
Hopefully they're working on a new ip, pretty tired of tlou to be honest. Uncharted would be alright I guess but it's gonna be weird without Nate.
It has been about 18 years since the last good Naughty Dog game, and doubling down on trying to be a tv drama in game form will just keep taking them in the wrong direction. Whatevs though, they’ve been a lost cause for years.
@ILikeStake the new studio in san deigo is working on uncharted. i wouldn't be shocked if they were working a new last of us , along with a new ip.
@Sakisa maybe you should wait to see what it actually is because i don't think it is what you are thinking.
@Sakisa
The Last of Us PS3 and the Uncharted trilogy were fantastic. ND was amazing during the PS3 era. Their two big PS4 games were both great too but did have some noticeable flaws.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about “they haven’t made a good game in 18 years.”
@IOI naughty dog is located in Santa Monica.
@Jslade Why mention the studio’s location instead of its name? Specially since there’s already a studio named Santa Monica…
@IOI it's a thing journalists do to avoid repetition, and then end up using the phrase "Japanese Giant" 3 every third article
I predict fractions, last of us part 2 director cut probably next year when season 2 of the series comes outs, last of us part 3 , and hopefully a new ip
@Nexozi They're not saying there will be more cutscenes in their next game. They're just talking about collaborating with other writers. Nothing suggests it's going to be a TV show, or episodic release.
@IOI I don't like it either, but it's a weird unwritten rule that one has to cram as many synonyms for people/locations/companies as possible into a single article.
@nessisonett I mean we don't really get that many cinematic games, but it depends how you define them considering I'm bored of the vast open world games, seeing as though 99% of games now are all open world, with cinematic parts to them. I'd love a good old cinematic adventure game for a change. Not just 30plus hour game to get through the story.
@Octane Will have to wait and see
I just want to hear something about factions. Anything. I mean it’s been how many years since TLOU2 came out and we’ve never really seen much about this game.
I suppose its to expected that as new techniques are sought to produce games, those with little vision or insight will simply equate this with whatever it is they fear about change.
For a developer that has always relied on amazing stories carried by strong characters, this is a good move and ND deserve the trust they have earnt to make a compelling experience.
Again everyone goes mental before anything has been released. It would not be the first misinterpretation on this site.
Uncharted remake of the retake, to rebuilt of the build for ps5-ps6 and ps7🤣😂
He is like Kojima for me... just needs to be something new in the works for me to get excited. Keep the games coming.
This is my overall fave dev and, as a consumer, I haven't been disappointed for a long time now (except in Sony's pricing the remake). They are very good in what they do so I can only expect polish and overall quality! Very curious on the creative approach!
A redo of last of us 2. I hated parts and loved parts lol. Looking forward to any news on uncharted an ageing Nate drake adventure. Eddie chase still has it he's in his 50s ( hunt for Atlantis book 1 guys very good )
Don't know if anyone gonna see this but who's in the UK? And can tell me how the h*** are we going to watch the last of us on HBO.
all I see is it will be on Sky Atlantic but in with virgin media so I double checked realised it will more likely be on NOW TV as thats sky's streaming service on checking how kuch it will cost.
I'm actually outraged that they are offering 720p as the standard package and then making you pay extra to get a boost to 1080p. 0 4k content. Im not watching the last of us on my 4k oled in 720p what the..... is going on. Is now tv still living in the early 00's
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