Over the years, Naughty Dog has built itself a reputation for creating cinematic games that feature blockbuster narratives. Since the release of the first Uncharted in 2007 the studio has refined its formulas to the point that The Last of Us is now one of the biggest names in gaming. Having taken inspiration from TV shows and movies during that process, it’s little surprise that its IPs are now being adapted into both mediums.
Considering Naughty Dog’s history and the existence of HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation, it’s also not shocking that the studio has stated its next game will take even more inspiration from the world of TV production. Even though Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann's comments have recently dialed back what that will entail, the idea is still an intriguing prospect. Significantly, one that could also have a major impact on the game Naughty Dog will reveal next.
Naughty Dog’s Writing Room and TV Show-Like Narrative
Thanks to Druckmann’s recent interviews and clarifications from the company’s Co-president, one of the impacts of the Naughty Dog making a game like a TV show is already public knowledge. Fans now know that the game in question will feature multiple writers. It's worth mentioning that the studio having a writer's room, just like a TV show, isn’t a complete surprise. For example, Halley Gross co-wrote The Last of Us Part 2’s story.
The revelation that more writers will work on the game is still an interesting prospect that feels like a natural progression for Naughty Dog. Instead of altering the narrative that the studio will create, it stands to reason that fans will get more of its trademarks. More engaging side-content, environmental storytelling instances, and collectibles, all seem like safe subsequent bets. Players only have to look at the success that Santa Monica Studio’s multi-writer approach had with God of War: Ragnarok's narrative for a blueprint the studio could follow.
Naughty Dog’s Formula With The Last of Us, Past Games
When people try to picture a typical TV show in their minds, there's a decent chance that most will imagine something with an episodic format. However, considering Naughty Dog's work on Uncharted, Crash Bandicoot, and more, and also Druckmann's clarifications, it's highly unlikely that the studio's next game will release in periodic pieces. Even though the likes of Telltale have found success using this format in the past, the idea contradicts the studio's development processes and Sony's love for marketable blockbuster content.
Instead, it's much more likely that Naughty Dog's next game will feature either distinct chapters, locations, or sections. Players only have to look at the structure of the original The Last of Us for evidence of the studio adapting a TV show-style format like this in the past. That game and its highly anticipated live-action adaptation split their narratives into seasonal content. As Ellie and Joel venture across the post-apocalyptic USA, players get a window into select parts of their adventure.
Taking that sort of approach again with a slightly increased scope could allow Naughty Dog to tell a grander story on an even larger scale. Based on how Druckmann dismissed Naughty Dog leaks surrounding the studio's next game, there's even a chance that it could relate to The Last of Us Part 3. Not only would the format create a nice parallel with Part 1, but it would also allow the writer's room and players to flip between Ellie's and Abby's stories.
For the most part, it stands to reason that if Naughty Dog's next game is more like a TV show, players will get more of what they've come to expect and love from the studio already. Recognizable actors and production values like in The Last of Us TV series, for example, are almost guaranteed. Concepts like the studio's pivot towards open environments could be one of the few notable areas of change, though, as it's arguably easier to tell a concentrated TV show-style story in a smaller environment.
