Naughty Doghas been making video games since 1984. Known as JAM Software, Inc. before formally changing its name,Naughty Dogworked on games such asMath JamandRings of Powerbefore finding success with its first exclusive PlayStation title:Crash Bandicoot. The company was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2001, and has since been a part of the PlayStation Studios family.
Naughty Dog games are almost synonymous with the PlayStation name.From the first PlayStationto the current-generation PlayStation 5, the company always strives to create titles that help push sales of Sony’s video game consoles. But with a lack of a new IP in the last console generation, it might be time for Naughty Dog to bring out something new and inventive to stand apart.
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New PlayStation Releases Used to Signify New Naughty Dog IPs
Taking a look at Naughty Dog’s portfolio shows that the company does its best to create new IPs whenever possible.Naughty Dog was able to createCrash Bandicoot, a 3D platformer, using the power of the original PlayStation. Once the company got a feel for 3D game development on sequels and spin-offs, it upped the ante with theJak and Daxterseries on the PlayStation 2. Not only did Naughty Dog increase the size of the playable areas inJak and Daxter, it also started experimenting with telling compelling stories through cutscenes and gameplay.
The company fine-tuned its gameplay and storytelling chops with sequels beforemoving onto the PlayStation 3 withUncharted. TheUnchartedseries was a natural progression for Naughty Dog, as not only did the series make full use of platforming and gunplay mechanics from previous works, the storytelling was on a different level. It helped prove that video games could tell stories that rival movies and other forms of media, introducing characters who were just as compelling.
All of this culminated withNaughty Dog’s latest IP:The Last of Us. Whereas the company’s past works were either cartoony or humorous,The Last of Uswas set in a post-pandemic world filled with many grim stories. It covered very mature and human topics, the likes of which no one knew Naughty Dog was capable of. When taken as a whole, Naughty Dog’s portfolio showcased the growth of the company and how far PlayStation tech has come.
Naughty Dog Is In a Sequel and Remaster Rut
Naughty Dog hasn’t made a new IP since 2013. AfterThe Last of Usended the PlayStation 3’s lifespan with a bang, Naughty Dog spent the PlayStation 4 era developing sequels and remasters.Unchartedsequels include 2016’sUncharted 4and its 2017 expansion,The Lost Legacy. In 2018 came a remastered compilation calledUncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection.
The Last of Usalso received a remaster in 2014 for PlayStation 4, followed by a full-fledged sequel in 2020. As for the current console generation,Naughty Dog’s most recent endeavors includeUncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, a PlayStation 5 and PC remaster ofUncharted 4andThe Lost Legacy, as well asThe Last of Us Part 1, a remake ofThe Last of Us.
This focus on remasters, remakes, and sequels may be great for those who never played the original releases, but it can be disheartening for others who want something new.Naughty Dog hasn’t announced a new IPin almost 10 years, which is a shame because a lot of its work tends to become renown classics. While this can be attributed to development becoming more costly, having a parent company like Sony should allow Naughty Dog some freedom to take risks.
The only confirmed title coming from the company right now is an ambitiousThe Last of Usmultiplayer game, which doesn’t have many details out beyond some concept art. There is a chance that Naughty Dog is already working on a new IP and waiting for the right time to announce it to the public. If this is the case, it would be best to show it sooner rather than later. Considering the PS5 will supposedly become more available in 2023,Naughty Dogcould jump in and create something unique that makes full use of the console’s capabilities.
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