Naughty Dog Reportedly Cancels Single-Player Game, But Another Unannounced Title Still in Development
In a recent development, renowned video game developer Naughty Dog has reportedly canceled an unannounced single-player game, according to insider Daniel Ritchman, as reported on his paywalled Patreon page. The project, which had been in development for over a year, was quietly shelved earlier this year. This move comes on the heels of the cancellation of The Last of Us Online, a multiplayer game that was ultimately axed because Naughty Dog did not want to transition into a live-service games studio.
As noted by WCCFTech, the canceled game was being directed by Vinit Agarwal, who previously worked as a Game Designer on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and The Last of Us Part II. Following the cancellation of the project, Agarwal subsequently left Naughty Dog. The reasons behind the cancellation are not yet clear, but it is believed that the studio did not want to pursue a live-service model, a decision that was influenced by Bungie’s explanation of what it would entail.
However, according to Ritchman, Naughty Dog is still working on another unannounced single-player title. This game is reportedly further along in development, having started around three years ago. The director of this project is Shaun Escayg, who returned to Naughty Dog in April 2021 after a brief stint at Crystal Dynamics as the Director of the ill-fated Marvel’s Avengers. Escayg previously worked as the Lead Cinematic Animator on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and later directed Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
While details on this game are scarce, WCCFTech reports that it may take a couple of years before we learn more about the project, given the typical development timeframe of a triple-A game. In the meantime, Naughty Dog’s main focus remains on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a brand new sci-fi intellectual property announced at The Game Awards 2024. This action/adventure game is directed by Neil Druckmann, the company’s president and the renowned creator of The Last of Us.
According to Druckmann, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will be a game where players will feel lonely, unlike most Naughty Dog titles, where the protagonist is accompanied by friends and teammates. Religion will be a central theme in the game. While there is no release date yet, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reckons it won’t launch before 2027. The game is expected to launch on PlayStation 5 and, presumably, on PC after a while.
The cancellation of the unannounced single-player game and the development of another title are the latest in a series of moves by Naughty Dog, which has been focusing on its core projects in recent years. As noted by WCCFTech, the studio’s decision to cancel The Last of Us Online was a significant one, as it marked a shift away from the live-service model. With Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and another unannounced title in the works, Naughty Dog is expected to continue delivering high-quality gaming experiences in the years to come.
