It’s rumoured that Sony’s new studio has been created to work on none other than the Uncharted series.
We already know that Sony is considering doubling-down on its first-party productions, and back in 2018 a series of job listings spotted by PushSquare suggested a new studio was being created.
The job listings called for applicants with an interest in third-person action games, citing that they’d be working in “collaboration” with a “major Sony development studio.”
Around the same time, it was discovered on ResetEra that one PlayStation employee had reportedly been working with Naughty Dog on an unannounced game.
Jump-cut to 2020 and it seems as though at least one Naughty Dog employee has joined the super-secret studio, presumably having finished their word on The Last of Us Part 2.
As noted by PushSquare, Naughty Dog environment artist Zak Oliver, has moved over to the Visual Arts Studio Group, a Sony-owned company that’s rumoured to be branching out into production. (At the moment, it’s best known for motion capture work on games like 2018’s God of War). His job is listed as a Senior Environment Artist, which does add some weight to the rumours of a new production team.
Does any of this directly point to a new Uncharted game? Well…no, so take it with a pinch of salt for now. However, a “third-person action game” from a new Sony studio, with talent from Naughty Dog? Yep, sounds pretty promising!
Earlier this year, Naughty Dog actors Troy Baker, Nolan North and Ashley Johnson sat down with studio vice president Neil Druckmann to talk through their experiences of TLOU, the fans, the filming and the future of the series.
In an off-comment made by Neil, the director subtly suggested we might not have seen the end of the Uncharted series, telling eager viewers that another game hasn’t been ruled out.
Speaking about The Last of Us Part 2 and the creative freedom that Sony allows, Neil said: “With [The Last of Us] sequel, first of all [we ask] do we wanna make it? We’re lucky that Sony gives us the freedom where we can choose… We made Uncharted 4 and we haven’t made another Uncharted since. Maybe we will, we’ll see.”
Nolan then quipped back with “We’ll talk about it,” before joking about how Neil’s comments are sure to make the internet explode.
You can (and should) check out the full video below, and while you’re at it, why not watch the whole playlist from the beginning.
Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog