Update: After a quote attributed to Naughty Dog studio head, Neil Druckmann, in an interview coinciding with a Sony corporate meeting, elicited a combination of excitement and eye rolling last week, the co-creator of The Last of Us has come out to claim that words were essentially put in his mouth and the unedited version of events reads quite different.
“In editing my rambling answers in my recent interview with SONY, some of my words, context, and intent were unfortunately lost,” Druckmann wrote in a post on social media, “Well, here’s the full long rambling answer for the final question about our future game…”
In editing my rambling answers in my recent interview with SONY, some of my words, context, and intent were unfortunately lost. Well, here's the full long rambling answer for the final question about our future game… pic.twitter.com/tVuxX3LYJF
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) May 25, 2024
Given the bit of the published interview that most had folks talking, where Druckmann was quoted as saying, “I’m eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming,” isn’t in the original text at all, it’s easy to see why the Head of Creative was eager to set the record straight.
Original Story: Although yesterday’s Sony corporate meeting and its ‘Creative Entertainment Vision’ proposition might not have had much in the way of PlayStation-related news or insights, the company published a meticulously-crafted interview with Naughty Dog’s studio head, Neil Druckmann, speaking to the company’s desire to further flex its IP across multiple mediums and shift the barriers for creators.
Most of the interview focuses on these goals at Sony, and how the evolution of technology in the future might pave the way for new innovations in storytelling and the idea of transmedia disciplines, why Druckmann thinks SIE and Naughty Dog’s cultures promote creative freedom and, of course, a bit of chatter about why we should believe that AI tools are good for game development.
Naturally, the bit that most folks have picked up on in the whole thing is the inevitable quick mention of the studio’s next project after The Last of Us Part 2, which is still shrouded in mystery. If Druckmann is to be taken at his word though, it’s going to blow us all away and make us forget what video games are.
“I’ve been lucky to work on several dream projects and am currently excited about a new one, which is perhaps the most thrilling yet,” Druckmann says in the interview, after being asked about his personal vision for the future.
“There’s a growing appreciation for gaming that transcends all age groups, unlike when I was growing up. This shift is highlighted by our venture into television with The Last of Us, which I hoped would bridge the gap between gamers and non-gamers. The show’s success has spotlighted gaming, illustrating the rich, immersive experiences it offers.”
“This visibility excites me not only for our current project but for the broader potential of gaming to captivate a global audience,” the studio head adds. “I’m eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.”
You can read the full interview here.
