Summary
A recent job listing suggests thatNaughty Dogcould be developing a first-person game. The award-winning developer’s next project has long been the subject of mystery and intrigue, but a first-person game would be a true paradigm shift forNaughty Dog, as it’s only developed third-person experiences so far.
Although Naughty Dog is arguably the most prestigious PlayStation first-party team, the general sentiment around the studio has somewhat declined in recent years, owing to the controversial reception of 2020’sThe Last of Us Part2, the consistent output of remasters and remakes since then, and thecancelation of the long-awaited TheLast of Us Onlineprojectin late 2023. The overall silence around Naughty Dog’s future projects is also a contributor, but studio head Neil Druckmann has teased that TheLast of Us Part 3is in the works, as well as another unannounced project which is speculated to arrive before the threequel.
It’s been rumored for some time thatNaughty Dog’s mystery project is a new IP, a first for the studio since 2013’sThe Last of Us. Beyond that, though, details on this enigmatic game have been scarce, but a new job opening may allude to it sporting a first-person perspective. A recent game designer job listing posted by Naughty Dog mentions experience in “3rd person or 1st person” action-adventure games as a bonus skill for its “brand-new single player game,” which has incited speculation among fans about the renowned developer breaking away from its pattern of third-person games in its 40-year tenure. It also adds more intrigue to the new IP, as it could be something unlike anything Naughty Dog has ever done.
Naughty Dog Has Previously Hinted at a Future First-Person Game
Lending further credence to the notion are Neil Druckmann’s comments from the DICE 2018 Summit, wherein the studio head stated thatNaughty Dog is open to making its next game first-person. Interestingly, Naughty Dog also explored a first-person perspective for 2013’sThe Last of Us, but eventually settled on a third-person view. Therefore, there is some historical precedence for Naughty Dog creating a first-person title. Conversely, it can also be argued that the job listing simply speaks in a more general capacity to attract more applications and isn’t indicative of the project itself.
Whatever the case may be, the anticipation forNaughty Dog’s next gameis undoubtedly high. If it is indeed first-person, it should be interesting to see whether it’ll be a mature action-adventure game in line withThe Last of UsorUncharted, or more interestingly, a shooter or RPG. Only time will tell, but the next time a Naughty Dog logo pops up at a PlayStation event, fans can expect to see something unexpected and new.
