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Update: Neil Druckmann took to Threads to clarify the statement that was shown in the interview. Druckmann's full response to the question posed by the interviewer was much longer and contains quite a bit more context than simply "it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming."
Reading through Druckmann's full response here shows that there is a lot more nuanced information not included in the original article's quote. The line about how Naughty Dog's next game "could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming" really misses the point entirely on what Druckmann initially said.
What it appears to me that Druckmann was getting at, is the fact that due to the popularity of shows like The Last of Us and Fallout, people may be surprised to find out their stories originally came from video games. After all, there are still huge swaths of people in the world that view video games as just for kids. Now with these new shows airing, there will be all these new eyes on the world of gaming that may not have been paying attention before. Druckmann says that he "find that really exciting" because this means people are now aware that these deep stories and characters exist outside of movies, books, and television.
The original article will remain unedited below. Just keep in mind here that it looks very likely that the quote of "it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming" was not said by Druckmann but is the work of some "creative liberties" taken while editing his response down for publication.
Original: Neil Druckmann is really talking up Naughty Dog's next project despite it not yet being announced. Druckmann says that the studio's next game "could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming."
Druckmann issued this bold statement in an interview with Naughty Dog's parent company, Sony. The statement about the next project came when Druckmann was asked to share what his personal dream project is that he hopes will one day become a reality. Druckmann says that he's already worked on several dream projects already, having worked on games like Uncharted and The Last of Us. Still, he says he's really looking forward to Naughty Dog's next project.
(I) am currently excited about a new one, which is perhaps the most thrilling yet.
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. 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.
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. 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.
In late 2023, Naughty Dog officially cancelled The Last of Us Multiplayer project that was suck in development limbo for several years. At the time of that game's cancellation, Naughty Dog said that they have "more than one ambitious, brand new single player game(s)" that they are working on.
