One of the jewels in Sony’s crown is Naughty Dog, a studio known for perfectionism, obsessive attention to detail, and industry-progressing gameplay design.Naughty Dog franchisessuch asThe Last of Us,Jak and Daxter, andUnchartedhave turned the studio into an industry staple, and gamers are always keen to know what the developers are working on next. While this eagerness is beneficial for Naughty Dog, as it builds hype for its upcoming games, it also encourages fans to hunt out leaks.
It may seem that Naughty Dog is careless with its information because it constantly faces leaks, with the latest ones affectingThe Last of Usremake. However, when one looks at the studio’s history, it becomes apparent that the leaks have come from so many sources that it would be impossible to predict all of them. Though the studio likely tries its hardest to tighten its security to ensure its secrets remain secret until the time is right, Naughty Dog illustrates that this is sometimes an impossible task.
RELATED:The Last of Us Part 1’s Companion A.I Improvements Are a Big Deal
The Leaks of Uncharted
One of Naughty Dog’s most successful franchises isUncharted, which allows players to travel the globe while hunting down the most precious relics. The series has often been compared toTomb Raider, although thanks to Nathan Drake’s charisma, it has managed to carve out an identity of its own. After the release of several titles, the series has gained great popularity, and plenty of eyes are always on it, leaving gamers constantly eager for the latest news.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deceptionwas subjected to leaks in the lead-up to its release. Some leaks were the result of retailers releasing their copies to customers early, and these gamers had posted their images and gameplay footage online. In response, though the game was originally supposed to launch in November 2011, the game was pushed forward to October 28 in parts of Europe. The damage had been done, however, and the game was already plastered all over the internet.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endwas the last mainline entry in the series, though it was followed by the spin-off,The Lost Legacy. It performed well on PS4, selling over 15 million copies. This has led to Sony wanting to expand the reach of theUnchartedfranchise, though in the process it, through an investor relations document, inadvertently leaked that a PC port ofUncharted 4was coming. It has since been officially announced that the game will make its way to PC via theLegacy of Thieves Collectionin 2022, though it has yet to receive a release date.
The Early Reveal of The Last of Us Part 2
Perhaps the most controversial leak Naughty Dog suffered came withThe Last of Us Part 2. After the success ofThe Last of Us, anticipation was high for the sequel, and there were many ideas surrounding where the studio would take the dramatic story. The game was originally slated to release in February 2020, but it faced several delays, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the workflow of several studios globally. Unfortunately, the further the game was pushed back, the more opportunities there were for leaks to occur.
RELATED:Naughty Dog’s Obsession With Yellow Explained
In April 2020, the game suffered significant leaks which included cutscenes, gameplay, and very important plot details. Leaks are pretty devastating to most games, but it hitThe Last of Us Part 2particularly hard because it relied so heavily on the element of surprise. Many of the game’s breathtaking twists, including the death of one of the central characters as well as the playable character switching partway, were revealed early. For some gamers, this took some impact out of these moments. Many of the plot details revealed turned out to be false, but enough of it was true for it to be a significant spoiler.
After the leak, Naughty Dog co-presidentNeil DruckmannTweeted that he was heartbroken for fans and the team, and Naughty Dog released a message warning fans to avoid spoilers while also telling them that regardless of any leaks, the final experience would be worth it. Although reports originally suggested that the leak may have been from a disgruntled Naughty Dog employee, after investigation, it was discovered that the perpetrators of the leak were outsiders who were not affiliated with the studio or with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Naughty Dog Suffers Yet Another Leak With The Last of Us Part 1
The firstThe Last of Us Part 1leak technically first appeared in April 2021, when gaming journalist Jason Schreier claimed that a smaller Sony studio tried to do aThe Last of Usremake, but the project was eventually passed to Naughty Dog instead. This news caused a stir in the gaming world, with many gamers wondering whether a remake ofThe Last of Usis necessary, especially when it would be the third time the game is being released in less than a decade. While some gamers accusedNaughty Dog of releasing a cash grab, others argued that a remake on current-generation hardware could breathe new life into the game.
A few hours before the game was officially announced, it suffered yet another leak, this time through the PlayStation Direct site where users were able to access the game’s announcement trailer. The game was officially confirmed at2022’s Summer Game Fest, where Neil Druckmann revealed that the game would be a remake rebuilt from the ground up. He also told gamers a bit about the upcomingThe Last of Usstandalone multiplayer title, and the television adaptation releasing next year.
The Last of Us Part 1is inching closer to release, but Naughty Dog has been subjected to yet more leaks. This time, the leak came in the form of a lengthy gameplay video which caused quite a stir. Some fans were disappointed by what they saw, as the video confirmed that certainThe Last of Us Part 2gameplay features, such as the ability to go prone, would not be making it toThe Last of Us Part 1. As though responding to the leak, shortly after, Naughty Dog released a video that did a deep dive into the upcoming game, explaining how it improves upon the original. In addition to taking advantage ofDualSense controllerfeatures, the game will also feature improved AI, graphics, and audio.
For some gamers, leaks are useful, as they give gamers an idea of what to expect from upcoming titles so that they can avoid potentially awful games before wasting money on them. However, other gamers see them as spoilers that disrespect the hard work of the developers. Regardless of how gamers feel about leaks, it is likely that they will never be fully eliminated, andNaughty Dog will probably never shake leaks offentirely.
The Last of Us Part 1is scheduled to release on 04 July 2025 on PS5. A PC port is in development.
MORE:From Jak and Daxter to The Last of Us 2, How Naughty Dog Has Pushed Gaming Technology Forward
