570°

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Naughty Dog Explains Why a Black Character is Played by a White Actress

During a panel at PlayStation Experience, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Creative Director Neil Druckmann discussed why Laura Bailey, who is Caucasian, was cast to play Nadine Ross in the game, who is black, from South Africa.

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DarkOcelet3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

Her voice just fits Nadine, i am loving it. Now i cant imagine Nadine being voiced by anyone else.

-Foxtrot3456d ago

If it was Naomie Harris I wouldn't mind :)

Looks so much like her

DarkOcelet3456d ago

Yes, she looks like her but Laura's voice is pretty damn good. She killed it out there.

LOL_WUT3456d ago

In Naughty Dog we trust ;)

uptownsoul3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

I'm sorry but I think its a legit question to ask Naughty Dog. And I love their work (especially when Druckmann & Strailey work together).

BUT The best person to play the voice a black woman is a white woman? I mean, why even go through the process of making the character black (presumably with a black back story) if your just going to get a white woman to voice the character anyways?

tablecloth3456d ago

@uptownsoul I think he pretty much explained that for you, unless you haven't read it.

trouble_bubble3456d ago

@uptownsoul

Voice acting jobs are dictated by performance, not just gender or ethnicity. You know that right? This is common.

random popular examples:

Kratos is a caucasian greek voiced by a black guy
Bart Simpson is a boy voiced by a woman
Darth Vader is a caucasian jedi/sith voiced by a black guy
Zoom on the Flash TV show is voiced by a black guy who's also not the actor in the suit.

Ethnicity isn't as important when so many pros can do dialects and accents anyways. Just look at Ownage Pranks

Ezz20133456d ago

**Explains Why a Black Character is Played by a White Actress**

Not really something i ever care about
and Trouble_bubble give great examples i was about to post them

What will always matter to me in voice acting is performance only.

TFJWM3456d ago

@uptownsoul They explained why in the UC4 panel...They didn't know the race of her when they were interviewing voice talent(they had people of both races come in) and she blew them away with her audition so they kept her. They also have a white male character voiced by a black man....

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3456d ago
TwoForce3456d ago

I agree. It's about performance.

CartBlanche3455d ago

The accent is really all over the place. Sometimes it is South African, other times Australian, other words, English.

If she has to be white, then get a white South African actress, FFS, not someone who is this bad at accents.

majiebeast3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

PC neogaf trying to find controversy when there is none. What else is new? They hired the best person for the job isn't that what we want?

-Foxtrot3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

If it was the other way round though I bet they wouldn't complain

It's like in films

A white character from a comic/book is race swapped into a black character...no one is supposed to bat an eyelid. We should accept it.

However

A black character from a comic/book is race swapped into a white character...RACIST...WTF ARE YOU DOING

Take the Human Torch casting in the god awful Fantastic Four film, film sucked but still people were apparently racist for speaking out over it but imagine if Falcon, Storm, Black Panther, Luke Cage etc were played by a white actor...there would be f****** hell on.

majiebeast3456d ago

Yep. its fucking ridiculous.

iceman063456d ago

Actually, there's an outrage regardless. You swap races and there's just as much of an outrage as if you don't cast black people for certain roles. It's just a matter of who is more vocal at any given time. I simply just say let them do what they do.

BlackPanther3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

A white character from a comic/book is race swapped into a black character...no one is supposed to bat an eyelid. We should accept it.

Bullshit. People are freaking out that Bond may be black. Don't pull that crap.

This just simply happens to all races.

-Foxtrot3456d ago

@BlackPanther

Except Bond is and always has been white. Some things should be left unchanged that's why people are up in arms

You'd be changing his race for sale of it

Anyway

Black Panther...BLACK panther. What about White Panther

You're cold man, cold 😉

Genuine-User3456d ago

@Foxtrot

I have some unfortunate news for you pal. Bond is a fictional chatacter, he's not real.

Race shouldn't matter. I wouldn't mind Edris Alba as the new Bond.

Zeref3456d ago

Uhh actually everyone freaked out about human torch being black. It happens all the time. Nobody likes race swaps.

And it's only because There aren't many mainstream famous Black superheroes. That people freak out when a black superhero is race swapped with a white one.

The most well known black Hero is probably Nick Fury. And he's not even THAT well known. He's no iron man or captain America or Spiderman.

_-EDMIX-_3456d ago

He is correct about Bond. You can make bond any race really as it doesn't really matter.

Consider he isn't even played by the same person.....

I would even like to see a female take on Bond.

Like someone stated, Bond is a fictional character....he or she (lolz) isn't real...

Someone voicing someone that is a of a different race actually means next to nothing as race isn't even something that can be identified by voice. It not determined by race, its actually determined by culture ie you can be born in an Asian country, not actually be Asian and sound.....well Asian lol

You are not born with a genetic encyclopedia on how to say all words, that is pretty stupid and has been proven by science to be incorrect. How you sound is based on were you actually learned to speak, not based on your race, its not a pre-determined thing.

Dirtnapstor3456d ago

Vamp anyone? Doesn't really matter to me. He/she who has the best chops wins. Phil LaMarr was perfect imo. Wish there was more of Vamp in general.

Dee_913456d ago

@foxtrot
and the saddest part is they are doing a disservice to actual racism. When you say trivial crap like fictional characters race swapping is the equivalent to the hatred of a race or belief your race is superior, you are trivializing the word. Its sad because racism is a real and horrible issue. Minorities don't need hipster chicks on the internet calling everything racist, they are making the fight harder for us.

"Except Bond is and always has been white. Some things should be left unchanged that's why people are up in arms "

Oh how hypocritical. You make strawman arguments like "If it was the other way round though I bet.." then say this bullcrap. You can literally say the same about those characters that were originally black in comic books..

sullynathan3456d ago

Funny you say this yet people were so butthurt and complained about Human Torch being played by a black character in the fantastic 4 movie.

Or how about people complaining about having a black spiderman?

FlexLuger3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

@Foxtrot

Clearly you forgot about the uproar at the black jedi in the new starwars.

Or how about this? Never mind the fact that santa clause does not exist and nobody knows what satan looked like. Never mind the fact that in the bible itself, jesus is describes as anything but white...But megan kelly and most white people seem to think they are, and when the subject gets brought up, all hell breaks loose. Yet the description of jesus, matches that of somebody from etheopia ( copper skin, thick, wool like hair), yet meghan kelly INISTS he is white:

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

And as for james bond...did you know, ian flemming created the character and the first novels around bond, in portland, jamaica? Technically that would make bond a jamaican creation. So a black bond is entirely plausable. Flemming still lives in jamaica btw...He never described bond as white..focus groups and movie companies decided that...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

And where is the uproar when they have Egyptian pharaohs being played by white people? that is a gross misrepresentation of an entire race. I dont have a problem with fictional comic characters having their races swapped. They are not real anyway. But what do you say of the media, white washing historic characters, that REALLY did exist, and factually were not white?

trouble_bubble3456d ago

@FlexLuger
Re. Bond.

Fleming's books twice compared Bond to Hoagy Carmichael in the looks department. That's a white guy btw. "Black hair falling over one eyebrow, blue eyes". Bond's parents were Scottish and Swiss, not Jamaican. And no, Fleming doesn't "still live in Jamaica" LOL, he's been DEAD since 1964!! Oh lawd

Legion213456d ago

There was plenty of outrage over the human torch. There shouldn't be outrage regardless of "which way" it's going.

Ezz20133456d ago

FlexLuger

Maybe i'm reading things wrong here
but:
**And where is the uproar when they have Egyptian pharaohs being played by white people? that is a gross misrepresentation of an entire race.
**

I'm Egyptian and i'm white
So where did you get the idea that pharaohs where just black people ?!

FlexLuger3455d ago

@Ezz2013

"I'm Egyptian and i'm white
So where did you get the idea that pharaohs where just black people ?!"

Egyptian people of today, look the way they do as a result of mixed breeding with arabs. Do you honestly believe that the ancient egyptians (A time before mass mixed breeding, in the regions of egypt, morroco and turkey, by arabs via islamic crusades)looked like modern day egyptians? I suggest you do your history, mate. Where did you get the idea that anybody other than black people lived in africa at the time of the pharoahs, over 2000 years ago?

@trouble_bubble

Cool. My bad. Not that much of a bond fan, so I wasnt really pennying whether the guy was alive or not. But I pass, his home ( which is known as ian flemming house) all the time, when I am in jamaica ( I live between Jamacaica, england and miami, btw), So I assumed he was still alive....and I know he would not have had a problem with a black man, playing as J.B. Jamaica was his home.

Ezz20133455d ago (Edited 3455d ago )

**Where did you get the idea that anybody other than black people lived in africa at the time of the pharoahs, over 2000 years ago?**

I know my history
and not once was it said that all Pharaohs were black people
not in any old book about Egypt history
So again...Where do you get the idea that pharaohs where just black people ?!
do you have any prove of this ?!

mike32UK3455d ago

I think the issue is people have a warped sense of what constitutes racism. For me racism is either: 1: when an act of violence is done against another person based solely on their racial background 2: something is said or done specifically to offend or discriminate against a person (or group of people) purely because of their racial background.

nosferatuzodd3455d ago

i have one thing to say to you, remember Thor?
people was up in arms about a black guy playing the gate keeper you really have some nerve pointing fingers over the fence buddy nuff said

BlackWolf123455d ago

Welcome to reverse discrimination!!!

The worlds response to inequality.

"How are we going to fix the inequalities in the world?"

"I know, let's reverse them! That will teach those discriminatory jerks a lesson!"

"Yeah that's a great idea, if we reverse all the inequalities in the world, then it will teach all of them to respect us more"

This.......... this is the solution the human race came up with when faced with such a problem. All of our collective intelligence, and this is our solution.

Makes you wonder if there is any hope for us as a species at all.

_-EDMIX-_3454d ago

@Flex- Please...just stop. You don't know what your talking about and I have no clue why you thought only black people lived in Africa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

80 million Egyptians live in Africa bud, they have for thousands of years.

Ezzz2013 is correct, yet your trying to tell him what he currently is? LMFAO! Might be one of the dumbest comments I've read on here in a long, long time.

All you have to do is google it and you'll know just how wrong you are. Educate yourself please, dear god do us a solid and read up on your world history.

"I suggest you do your history, mate. Where did you get the idea that anybody other than black people lived in africa at the time of the pharoahs, over 2000 years ago"

History....I mean...the man is of that nationality so I'm pretty sure Ezzz2013 kinda knows.

Mind you...were are you facts to even support this? I mean...we just guessing huh?

The man thinks all people in Africa are black...

Doesn't know how to spell Pharaoh.....its clear maybe, just maybe Flex....you don't know what your talking about.

lol

+ Show (18) more repliesLast reply 3454d ago
uptownsoul3456d ago

The best person to play the voice a black woman is a white woman?

ginsunuva3455d ago

Neogaf didn't do this, Greg Miller asked this on stage and made himself look like an idiot.

BeefCurtains3455d ago

In this day and age, it is sadly not "the best person for the job". It has become "the most politically correct person for the job."

I've never thought twice about the ethnicity of the person that does the voice for a game character. Who cares?

rainslacker3455d ago (Edited 3455d ago )

Given the events layed out by Druckman, seems the better question would be, why did they make the character black, and they should be upset about that because the characters VA is white.

But doing so would be the retaliation of people who would think that they are racist because the character should be black...or something or another. I dunno, who can keep track anymore about what's offensive and what isn't?

The more rational person says, "who cares"?, and moves on. Why is her race a big deal at all? Unless her race is a part of the story, all I really care about is the characters personality, and if the VA can express that properly, I'm cool with whatever.

That being said, do black people and white people talk differently? Outside of dialect and colloquialisms, I'm pretty sure their voice boxes are wired the same as most other humans.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3454d ago
3456d ago Replies(1)
Krakin13456d ago

I'm black and I think its sad that they had to explain themselves

Zeref3456d ago

Same here smh. Who cares?

Kyosuke_Sanada3456d ago (Edited 3456d ago )

Ugh, when will this crap end? I wonder what people of the future are going to think when they look back at this decade in museums?

BLAKHOODe3456d ago

Just look back at the '60s and '70s or earlier. There is your answer. If you want to know the future, study the past.

Show all comments (135)
340°

Neil Druckmann Reveals He’s Working on an Unannounced Game at Naughty Dog

Neil Druckmann, the creative director of The Last of Us, is working on a new, unannounced game at Naughty Dog.

RaidenBlack2d ago

I know they've expertise in third person games.
But given the lack there of in PS catalog, I'd want the other project to be a narrative first person ND game.
Look, there are lots of 3rd person Sony games in variety of flavors. And ND is already doing intergalactic. And since they're pretty expert at gameplay and tech wise in whatever they do, they can easily venture a new genre and ship a first person game/shooter.

VenomUK2d ago

Hopefully the lead character is a boss babe who will challenge the patriarchy.

RaidenBlack2d ago

So, judging from the dislikes, hardcore Sony fans here don't like first person games, anymore?

arkard2d ago

Let naughty dog do what they are great at, 3rd person games

crazyCoconuts2d ago

I don't really have a big opinion on first vs third person perspective. That's one of the least important things to me when rating how much I like a game

Flewid6382d ago

Sounds horrible. The downvotes are right on this one.

badz1492d ago

I actually hate 1st person. very hard to associate with a character you only see their hands most of the time.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2d ago
OtterX2d ago

funny thing is with failures like Concord and soon to be Marathon, Factions could have been Sony's guaranteed huge success with a shooter! I don't ever play online shooters anymore, but I would have come out of shooter retirement for a new Factions game.

RaidenBlack1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

{ coming from the above thread }
So PS Fellas hate first person games now? (Understandable)
But praise Killzone and Resistance series, as well?
And hope for a return of first party first person games? ~ but from where? insomniac is deep in marvel territory, guerilla is deep in aloy territory ... suckerP are not as big to undertake that change + dedicated to Ghost series
The only options are ND and Santa Monica, who are rumoured to be involved in parallel projects. ~ so take your pick.
And the other 'new' studios at Sony are not that hot right now with knee deep in live service fiasco

darthv722d ago

...Way of the Warrior 2: Electric Boogaloo

Amplitude2d ago

It’d be cool if they bought the Parappa licence and made Parappa 3 that’d be the real good timeline

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 15h ago
Lightning773d ago

Wait I thought they cancelled a game? Or did they announce another project?

https://wccftech.com/naught...

pwnmaster30002d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I’m assuming it’s the unannounced game in the title you posted.

“Naughty Dog Reportedly Canceled a Single Player Game This Year, But Another Unannounced Game Is Still in the Works“

Lightning772d ago

OK I gotcha. That makes sense.

jznrpg2d ago

Devs cancel games all the time early stages if it doesn’t turn out the way they envisioned it. We just don’t hear about every one of them.

Notellin1d 18h ago

Yeah only a narcissist like Druckmann would announce a game this early that has a 99% chance of being cancelled.

badz1492d ago

so a 2028 release at the soonest

Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Some speculate it could be Uncharted spin off. It's already 3 years in production so yeah 2028 maybe 2027 at the absolute earliest but most likely 28 release.

Also to add. kojimas next game that's not OD is said to be 5 to 6 years out for PS. That metal gear inspired game. These games are just too far off it seems.

pwnmaster30002d ago

This dude is busy.
So who is running intergalactic?

Knushwood Butt2d ago

'We have several directors on Intergalactic. I work with two game directors: Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, [and] I have a co-writer in Clair Carré.'

pwnmaster30002d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Okay you got me, I skimmed the article and video .
Thanks lol

vTuro242d ago

Cuckmann is going to be Naughty Dog's downfall.

itBourne2d ago

Going to be? The damage is already done lol.

Flewid6382d ago

Sunlight is good for you, I promise. lol

vTuro241d 17h ago

Damage has been done but it's not too late yet if they dump him now. Probably won't happen though. It's sad, honestly. We'll see what happens after Intergalactic. That game is going to have a huge impact one way or another.

StormSnooper1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Yes because they didn’t make some of the greatest games. Right, we all just agree to live in your fantasy from now on.

Flewid6382d ago

yall say that about ever developer and then they end up becoming more successful lol

mkis0072d ago

Downfall? If anything he is a huge reason they are on the map! A few apes don't like the material hasn't stopped his games from being massive hits.

DarXyde2d ago

I have grievances with Druckmann, but he does deserve some benefit of the doubt. He's been in crucial roles at the company through all of their successes.

Maybe wait and see?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1d 16h ago
StormSnooper2d ago

Interesting. So they are working on more than we knew.

Show all comments (61)
450°

Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Update

Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reportedly won't make 2026. Neil Druckmann tells IGN: "We are playing it at the office and it's incredible."

isarai57d ago

We'll probably know how the PS6 looks by then. We really go a whole gen without a ND game? 🫩

andy8556d ago

If it's 2027 with no delays, it's probably going to be a late PS5 game, like the last of us was a late PS3 game.

chrisx56d ago

Probably a cross gen between PS5 and 6. Looking forward to this game

JEECE56d ago

They had also already launched three Uncharted games on PS3 before that lol.

Although in fairness if a studio like Naughty Dog released three games in a single series in five years like they did with Uncharted, fans would lose their minds with "they're milking the franchise and driving it into the ground" criticisms. I mean, people said they were driving Last of Us into the ground after one sequel that came out seven years after the first game lol.

Noskypeno56d ago

@jeece Gamers now are so used to games taking 7+ years to make that if a fan wants a sequel to a game 5 years after the last one that its too soon and is going to feel rushed, like some gamers are saying its too soon for a new Far cry game when the last one came out 4 years ago. Games are too bloated now that dont need to be, too many devs trying to reinvent the wheel to a series that doesn't need it. Sometimes all we want is just more of what we just played just to continue the story, just new locations and maybe new weapons. A series known for being linear shouldnt try to become a game thats as open as GTA, maybe make it semi open but thats it. Killzone Shadowfall and UC4 found the sweet spot with their semi openness for a series known for linearity, more games should follow that path.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 56d ago
S2Killinit56d ago (Edited 56d ago )

I dont think so. And it wouldn’t be the first time “an analyst” talks out of his a$$.

The article gives a lot of info based on that one on one interview with director of 28 years later. Im loving whats being said, but i think i reaally should stop reading all the articles about this game. I want to go in blind!

Ps: For this game alone I’m updating to PS5Pro. (And Yutei)

jznrpg56d ago

I’m with you. I don’t believe much said these days and I want to go in blind as well

WelkinCole56d ago

Right at the end. To think we not only got 2 new franchise Uncharted and TLOUS as well as 4 main games in the PS3 gen alone. Now this?

NoDamage55d ago

Insane isn't it. Poor leadership is the issue. This game came out of nowhere and we're just supposed to be excited because Neil thinks it's great...wow I'm excited.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 55d ago
bunt-custardly56d ago

Good, time for that hair to grow back then.

chrisx56d ago

Cringe. I can already tell you're one of those who follows their YouTube Lords and don't think for themselves lol

bunt-custardly56d ago

Nah, I like my female gaming characters to look less androgenous.

chrisx56d ago

@bunt, and you already have so much games that gives you just that. Maybe skip this one if it doesnt appeal to you

MrDead56d ago

@bunt-custardly

Just don't buy the game, you have plenty of waifu's at home to keep those hairy palms busy. Let games be games, not your porn fantasy.

bunt-custardly56d ago

See you guys are part of the problem. You guys are the reason why we have Ubisoft and tons of other western developers making their females look...well...ugly, manly and fitting the narrative that women in games must NOT be sexualized lest they won't be taken seriously (yet, JAPANESE, CHINESE and Korean developers says a big fat hello boys).

Erm, yeh am going to disagree with you. I can still enjoy a game if the lead character wants to look like Ripley from Aliens sure, but as a preference I like women to be women, not clones of men in a female body. But, when it comes to ND and their forced agendas. I honestly think their actions are more baiting than anything (cue Abi from TLOU2 and how much controversy she caused by-design).

A bit silly of some of you commenters assuming things about me on a personal level, just because I enjoy a bit of eye candy. But if back-handed ad hominem is your thing, then go for it.

MrDead56d ago

@Bunt

"But if back-handed ad hominem is your thing, then go for it."

I mean if your vocal position on the game so far is "I like my female gaming characters to look less androgenous" it's already not a good position. Expect the back-hands... or just have a picture of you favourite cg waifu's you fancy sitting next to the screen while you play so you don't get overwhelmed by the scary androgynous character.

S2Killinit56d ago (Edited 56d ago )

Imagine being so caught up in bs that he cant stop himself from commenting on the length of a female character’s hair as an “agenda”, then turning around and saying all of you guys are “the problem”. He must have drank the entire cool aid that one.

Killer2020UK55d ago

Bunt, has it occurred to you that people disagreeing with you don't do so because they "want females to look ugly and manly" but because they don't need every female character to look like a Barby doll in order to enjoy a game. Some people play games for reasons other than gooning, like, ya know, story or gameplay...

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 55d ago
anast56d ago

Another person that lacks experience and is proud of it. This is definitely a strange phenomenon.

thorstein56d ago

Not seeing a beautiful woman as attractive is a you thing.

But it's okay. It can be confusing. Hope you figure yourself out.

bunt-custardly56d ago

Tati Gabrielle is stunningly beautiful IRL.

Daeloki55d ago

Yikes, your weak-ass fragility is showing...

hot4play55d ago

Hoping we can customize the character with hairstyles or helmets (Ratchet and Clank-style) haha

__y2jb55d ago

I wonder who bunt voted for.

bunt-custardly55d ago

Almost a 50/50 split on this rather silly comment, yet interestingly (and proving my point somewhat), the only people who are commenting, are the 50% who are in disagreement with it. The other 50% are staying silent. Sums it all up really who has the loudest voices and facilitates these changes.

S2Killinit55d ago (Edited 55d ago )

Because the other 50% know they are being ridiculous.

And what “changes”? You think maybe you been lied to that short hair equals a bunch of other things? Snap out of it. You’ve been brainwashed!

bunt-custardly55d ago (Edited 55d ago )

@s2killinit depends how long you've been gaming for go back in time and you will see a massive difference in how lead female characters were presented compared to today. There has been a massive paradigm shift towards less sexualized female characters (not male) in Western developed video games due to a number of factors, but a big part of that shift is due to the fact that people who object, have gotten into roles where they can influence design choices and make decisions. It's not conjecture; it's a fact.

N4G has posted several stories on this topic if you look around. I'm all for diversity, and also don't really care what the character looks like if the game is good. But, I do have preferences (which I'm allowed to have). That's why, I love games that allow you to customize the character, so everyone is catered to.

https://n4g.com/news/265974...

Hmmm, not a western developed game methinks. Not going to see a shaved head version here.

Beating a dead horse here. I'll be quiet now.

Profchaos55d ago (Edited 55d ago )

You know it's a sci fi right bald space marine bounty hunter been done a million times since the 70s not everything is woke

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 55d ago
Inverno56d ago

Not a single new ND game for a whole gen. F this generation.

BehindTheRows56d ago

You’ll live.

OT: Cook! As long as it’s great at launch (and it will be), take your time!

Inverno56d ago

We had 3 Uncharted games and LoU at the end of the PS3 gen. U4, Lost Legacy and LoU2 on PS4. All we've gotten from them is a fancy asset swap for yet another port of LoU and YEARS of dev for Factions wasted after cancellation. I'll live but the fact still stands, this gen whomps yo.

S2Killinit56d ago

It will be amazing. Its ND.

RedDevils55d ago

Good thing I didn't buy PS5 Pro what a big waste lol I get the PS6 along side with this game in 2 years time.

S2Killinit55d ago

@redDevils
Buying PS5PRO for this game and Yotei. You can wait.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 55d ago
BehindTheRows56d ago (Edited 56d ago )

I mean, if the gen hinges on the single actions of Naughty Dog for you, more power to you.

I tend to be a little more grateful than that.

And no, TLOU: R wasn’t an “asset swap”, but a full remake using the PS5.

derek56d ago

@Inverno, who said that? Lol. Some of guys seem to love misery even when it based on nothing.

-Foxtrot56d ago

He's not wrong though, they haven't done anything brand new this gen other than remakes and remasters, there's literally not been a brand new game since TLOU2 and a new IP since the original TLOU in 2013

So it's not based on nothing, it's based on the cold hard truth. Are we really actually denying this?

Inverno56d ago

Dood it's not coming out til 2027. Safe to assume that next gen will arrive then too, that's the whole gen without an ND game. Not just ND tho, many PS studios haven't or won't put out more than maybe 1 game built for the PS5, and not a cross gen release with PS4, this gen. You can't say that isn't disappointing when many of their studios worked on so many projects, big and small, last gen. Nothing from SSM, ND, BEND, MM, even Insomniac who has more put out slightly more has only put out Marvel related projects. Sucker Punch will be putting out a Ghost sequel built exclusively for this gen, 5 years into it! Which means it'll be their only game this gen. The excitement is dead, if not for third party releases this gen would not have been worth it.

BehindTheRows55d ago

They do. Lots of complaining and no appreciation for the things that have released. Of course, based on disagrees, we see that misery loves company. Just glad I’m not part of that.

victorMaje56d ago

Why do I get the feeling they’re going to release a statement in 2027 saying they’ve had to make the tough decision to release on PS6 in order to provide us with the best version they can…I hope I’m very wrong…
How can you go from so many great games to 0 new games?

franwex56d ago

I doubt it. Sony is also known for releasing major games for the previous gen while the new gen has started.

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500°

New Naughty Dog Project Has Been in the Works Since 2020, Neil Druckmann Given Full Creative Control

Neil Druckmann’s new project has been in development since 2020, with Sony giving him full control over the game but not the announcement.

RaidenBlack189d ago

Can't wait ... new IP from ND.
Hope its the gritty sci-fi one

The_Hooligan189d ago

Whatever they make will be great but I personally would like to see them do a bit lighthearted (uncharted) tone with the next game.

Cacabunga189d ago

Oh no not this moron again…

LoveSpuds189d ago (Edited 189d ago )

I'll take anything to be honest, easily my fave developer but I think I might agree with you personally Hooligan.
After a decade of TLoU it might be nice to see an action romp or something.

SoloZelot90189d ago

To be clear it's a new IP from Neil druckman. It's the first IP where he will be completely in control.

The way some people talk about him he is basically the heart and soul of naughty dog since the beginning so it better be a banger.

Vits189d ago (Edited 189d ago )

Recently, yes, he’s the most well-known name at Naughty Dog, but he’s not really an original employee—more like part of the third generation, having started toward the end of the PS2 era.

Right now, he’s the studio head, but by the time The Last of Us came around, he was already a lead developer. By Part II, he had moved up to creative director and vice president. So when they say it's the 'first IP where he’s completely in control,' it really means he’s not sharing the lead role with anyone else, like he did in most of his other successful games, including The Last of Us and the Uncharted sequels.

Personally, I'm a bit worried about that. I don't dislike Neil's work, but if you look at the games he's been involved in, it becomes clear that he's more of a "movie/book" type of creative. He really struggles with ludonarrative dissonance, and the more control he has over a project, the more that issue seems to show up.

Redemption-64189d ago

He was in control of TLOU. Without him the game would not exist. Why do you think Sony gave him a major promotion after the success of an IP he made? Not only was he the writer, he was one of the creative directors in charge of narrative, Bruce the other creative director was in charge of gameplay. The fact that Sony and HBO worked with Neil rather than Bruce should tell you who was in charge of the narrative/story.

Lightning77189d ago

They could either announce and tease the game next year or wait closer for the release date to announce and show it off then.

It took Last of us 2 7 years so we're looking at 27 26 if we're lucky.

Christopher189d ago

Gotta be honest, we've known about this second studio since 2020 when they did the hiring blitz... but finding out it's full creative control of Druckmann? I'm not as hyped as I thought I would be.

Sonic1881188d ago

I feel the same way. I'm not a fan of Neil Druckmann to take full creative control

lukasmain188d ago

My DREAM, would be Naught Dog tackling THE PUNISHER ip. Doing a brutal Punisher. Like how deaths and kills in the LAst of us 2 were so realisitically brutal.

RaidenBlack188d ago

Whatever the IP, adapted or original, hope he sticks to realistic themes 🤞🏻

Babadook7188d ago

Yeah Neil Druckmann has a magic touch. And this is supposed to be super ambitious (when is is not?).

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Berenger189d ago

Literally do not care until you show gameplay and release window.

BrockEmSockEm188d ago

Agreed, I don't care until I see it running well, day 1.

victorMaje189d ago

Ok. Where’s the gameplay? Or a teaser? Will it be ready before the end of the gen?
0 current-gen ND game. It’s kind of embarrassing.

SoloZelot90189d ago (Edited 189d ago )

Whoa there...this is Neil druckman....he's a genius!

He figured he can get paid for an entire generation without releasing a single new IP or follow-up sequel/prequel. I'm sure he'll be replaced soon after their new game. I gotta say that naughty dog has clearly changed since he took over...they seem entirely self absorbed because of previous leadership success.

Eonjay189d ago

Not really a fair comment as the multiplayer game he did announce was canceled by Bungie and Sony.

Class_Viceroy188d ago

Funny Bethesda and Rockstar does this with Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Grand Theft Auto and nobody complains about it. They just keep buying the games on 16 different platforms and are some of the highest selling games of all time.

Yet Naughty Dog does this with TLOU and all of a sudden everyone acts like this is something that has never been done before....they are bad guys.

Is it a little annoying that they've done so many remasters and only had 2 games? Sure. Are the 2 games they released probably some of the highest quality produced games in terms of story, acting, graphics, gameplay, fun factor however? Do you get your $60-70 worth? You bet.

I'll take quality over quantity any day of the week. If you want to play a shit load of games, just go on Steam daily. They release 50 new games a day on PC.

SoloZelot90188d ago

@eonjay
They should have released it since they promised it would be part of the second game and removed it with the promise of it arriving later. But you're right...he almost released something.

@classviceroy
Not sure what your comment has to do with anything I said. I think the same of Bethesda and especially Rockstar.

RaidenBlack189d ago (Edited 189d ago )

You didn't read the article properly...

victorMaje189d ago

But I did, he has all the control, Sony the marketing & announcement decisions, I simply don’t think it’s normal.

ND earned my trust for the previous games they released but my trust is not limitless.
0 games this gen. Not even an announcement for the pro? Is Sony ok with that? Are they punishing themselves for trying to force Factions 2.0 LS & now have completely given carte blanche to Neil?

An article about a statement that their next game has been in the works since 2020 is just not enough for me.
Would’ve been nice to have a little sthg palpable. This is ND, not an indy dev. Shouldn’t they have sthg that can be shown or announced by now?

Eonjay189d ago

Didn't there last game release 2020. Plus they released the enhanced games as well. Development cycles take a good 5 years now.

victorMaje189d ago

It released for PS4, it’s not a current-gen game. Remasters/remakes don’t count. I want to see a current gen ND game, with all the power PS5 has to offer. Fair enough "dev cycles take a good 5 years", They surely had dev kits from before, & still no announcement…

Eonjay189d ago

Actually they did announce a multiplayer game but it was dismissed by Sony for not being 'live service' enough. So this narrative that they haven't been doing anything is busted.

victorMaje188d ago

I’m not saying they haven’t been doing anything. I’m saying they haven’t been doing what matters. Can I get a new ND single player game announcement?

dveio189d ago

There are only very, very few studios out there which every game they've released not just only became a critical and a commercial success.

But that are also followed by other studio veterans, press and the community watching their achievments in audiovisual game design.

And I think it's safe to say that Naughty Dog are right up that list. Maybe there is noone constantly at the #1 spot, it changes, which is good.

But wether you like Uncharted, TloU1 & TloU2 or not doesn't matter in this regard - technologically speaking, I still to this day find it unbelievably impressive what they've had accomplished with TloU2 in that field. And of course every other game respectively for its time.

There are only a few movies and movie directors out there, comparatively to the whole pool, that won awards in all the 'best' categories. And even fewer that won them twice or even more times.

Naughty Dog is right up in that very unique list, too.

I don't really care what they've been working on, which should be 5 full years soon if development started at the beginning of 2020.

But I really wish they've made it through that rough time at their studio.

"Hopefully" it's going to be a new IP - because I have the feeling that the efforts they had put into the TloU franchise really became exhausting and tiring from a creative standpoint.

You just need to do work on something different from time to time.

Sry for the love letter, but I just love their dedication and work.

The Last of Us is easily in my personal list of the top 5 franchises and videogames ever created.

LoveSpuds189d ago

I am with you all the way squire, nobody comes close in my view. Even for those who didn't like TLoU2, you have to give ND credit for taking chances, pushing boundaries etc. It would have been so easy to just play it safe like so many other extended franchises have.

dveio189d ago

Thanks, mate!

And I absolutely do agree with you, too!

SoloZelot90189d ago

Absolutely. Nobody ever disagreed that technically tlou2 was impressive.

SoloZelot90189d ago

Tlou 1 was truly impressive. Hope they can pull the same impressive feat with a new ip

Aloymetal189d ago

''technologically speaking, I still to this day find it unbelievably impressive what they've had accomplished with TloU2 in that field.''
This 100%. What ND accomplished in terms of fluid and seamless animations in TLOU2 is incredible. Sure there are more versatile and sophisticated engines from Sony, Unreal etc, etc...But so far nothing comes close to TLOU2 animations. Wizards!!

mudakoshaka188d ago

You have bad taste if the Last of Us is in your top 5. It just takes tropes from other games and stories, and they made a good game. Not a great game by a LONG shot. I bet most players never even finished part 2.

Knushwood Butt188d ago

I just completed three runs of Part 1 and am about to start a fourth, this time grounded, and not ng+

dveio188d ago

"It just takes tropes from other games and stories, and they made a good game"

Tell me the game that doesn't.

P_Bomb188d ago

“ I bet most players never even finished part 2.”

According to the PS4 trophy list, 57.9% beat TLOU2. That’s one of the highest completion percentages in ALL of gaming. Ppl need to give credit where it’s due and stop projecting.

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