Naughty Dog’s new IP could finally be in the works
The future of Naughty Dog might be here, as the acclaimed developer behind The Last of Us could finally be working on its next IP. Originally known for its work on Crash Bandicoot, Naughty Dog has since become attached to some of the most infamous adventure game franchises of all time.
After introducing us to the treasure-hunting world of Uncharted, we traversed a very different story with the mushroom monsters of The Last of Us. With Uncharted having officially finished and the future of The Last of Us unclear, that's freed up the Naughty Dog diary for something new.
Naughty Dog's new IP could finally be in the works
Despite the surprise cancellation of the long-awaited The Last of Us multiplayer, there was a silver lining that Naughty Dog confirmed multiple new games were in the works. That was the only tidbit we got, but now, an unearthed LinkedIn posting from a Naughty Dog artist has started the wheels turning.
Creative Designer/Story Artist Colin Lorimer has apparently been with Naughty Dog since 2021, having worked on HBO's live-action The Last of Us series and the canned multiplayer known as The Last of Us: Factions. The interesting bit is a mention that he is "currently helping develop their latest IP."
It's a suitably minuscule breadcrumb, and while we've been fooled before by LinkedIn profiles, it's also become an unlikely place to get some major scoops. You might remember when concept art from a supposed Naughty Dog fantasy game leaked in 2021, and with things going quiet, could we see it emerge again?
What about The Last of Us Part 3?
Click to enlargeWith Naughty Dog being a relatively small team, there are questions about whether it will be able to juggle two IPs at once. If it's all hand on deck for this new IP, it presumably pushes our hopes of The Last of Us Part 3 back a bit.
Although Lorimer's wording suggests it's something brand-new, others remain sceptical and assume it's just a continuation of The Last of Us' story. After all, Naughty Dog boss Neil Druckmann has already said there's a story for Part 3.
We had to wait seven years between 2013's original and its 2020 sequel, meaning we likely wouldn't expect a mythical Part 3 until at least 2027. Even then, we'd imagine that's optimistic. Dousing the flames of Part 3, Tommy actor Jeffrey Pierce says he hasn't heard anything about another outing.
Considering some think we should leave The Last of Us as a two-part epic instead of a trilogy, there will be plenty of support for a new IP from the acclaimed developer. We've come to accept that The Last of Us Part 3 is out there somewhere, and if we have to wait a bit longer, so be it.
