Since its founding back in 1984,Naughty Doghas steadily developed a reputation in the gaming industry for creative excellence and pioneering technological advancement. Often the IPs that it has developed, such asCrash Bandicoot,Uncharted, andThe Last of Us, have become household names amongst players at certain points in time. Its rise to prevalence is so prolific that, following the studio’s acquisition by Sony in 2001, Naughty Dog has arguably become the most prolific and celebratedPlayStation first party developer.
There’s a long list of factors which have madeNaughty Dog’sjourney to that position possible that shouldn’t be forgotten. Alongside a desire to take creative risks on new IPs, fully embracing 3D in the 90s and the early adoption of motion capture technology, are just a few of the reasons for its success. Innovation often comes hand in hand with wholesale change though, so it’s little surprise that Naughty Dog’s history has also been defined by a willingness to leave beloved franchises behind. With the studio set to have a big presence on Sony’s PS5, it’s worth taking a look back at every franchise that’s paved the way so far.
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Naughty Dog Pre-PlayStation
It might be easy to forget considering the position that it now holds within Sony’s first party lineup, but Naughty Dog’s historypredates PlayStation by a whole decade. During that time, the studio honed its craft whilst working with a number of high profile partners such as Apple, EA, and Sega. Under its original name JAM Software, inspired by its two founders, the studio released a handful of games between 1985 and 1987 for platforms like the Apple II, DOS, and Atari ST. These includedMath Jam,Ski Crazed, andDream Zone.
In an attempt to separate itself from its earliest creations, due to their less than stellar reception, the studio assumed the name Naughty Dog in 1989. In that same year the rebranded studio released its comedy-themed point and click adventure RPG,Keef the Thief. Neither it, nor its follow-up adventureRings of Power, were received well, which promptedNaughty Dog to take a multiple-year hiatusfrom game development. Eventually this silence gave way to 1994’sWay of the Warrior, a fighting game for the 3DO that established the groundwork for the studio’s future.
Due to the lack of critical or commercial success from this part of Naughty Dog’s history, it’s hard to envision the studio ever wanting to revisit these IPs. The fact that most of the creative people that helped build the studio in the 80s are now long gone from its corporate setup likely makes this even more true. Licensing issues, exacerbated by the fact that nearly 40 years have passed since these games were created, are the final nail in the metaphorical coffin. Instead, it seems much more likely that the settings that defined this era ofNaughty Dog might be repurposed for new projects.
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Crash Bandicoot
Following its humble beginnings, Naughty Dog earned its first real taste of global fame with theCrash Bandicootseries. Published in collaboration between Sony and Universal Interactive, 1996’s originalCrash Bandicootquickly spawned two acclaimed sequels.
Thanks to Naughty Dog’s decision to make the franchise a 3D platformer,Crashinstantly stood out from the likes ofMarioandSonic. After lingering on the fringes of the industry, the studio had successfully created PlayStation’s first mascot, whilst helping to legitimize Sony’s soon-to-be empire. Having reached this lofty position, Naughty Dog’s tenure withCrashcame to an end due to licensing agreements with Universal in 1999, followingthe release ofCrash Team Racing.
As it stands right now Activision Blizzard is in the process ofbeing acquired by Microsoft, which meansCrash Bandicootis set to once again become a first party IP. In a turn of events that was once thought to be unimaginable, it’s now possible that Sony’s original mascot won’t feature on PlayStation platforms going forward. With this all being said, before Microsoft’s plans were announced it was already hard to envision Naughty Dog ever returning to the series. The extra distance that’s now been put between the two, means it’s almost guaranteed to never happen.
Jak and Daxter
To avoid ever falling victim again to the licensing heartache that saw it separated fromCrash, Naughty Dog officially joined Sony’s fledgling first party family in 2001. Emboldened by the success of its previous work, the studio set out to create a new platforming series that featured more action mechanics and narrative elements.Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, released at the end of the same year on PS2, was the end result. Alongside Insomniac Games’Ratchet and Clank, andSucker Punch’sSly Cooper, Naughty Dog’s series quickly became part of a trio that defined Sony’s second home console for many players.
Following the release of two sequels that featured more open-world mechanics, and another racing game spin-off, Naughty Dog took the arrival of the PS3 as an opportunity to redefine itself again.Jak and Daxterwas subsequently sidelined, so the studio could focus on bringing Nathan Drake’s adventures to life. While an attempt to get a matureJak 4off the ground was explored again in 2010, Naughty Dog ultimately opted to createThe Last of Usinstead.
Having wrestled with the prospect of returning toJak and Daxterfor so long, it’s hard to say if the studio has fully let go of the series. Based on the creative constraints of returning to an established series, which have sunk two knownJakrevivals, it seems much more likely that a new studio will eventually be called upon to take the pair forward.
Uncharted
In many ways Naughty Dog’s decision to create its pulp adventure-inspiredUnchartedfranchise, is one that’s gone on to define the trajectory of PlayStation more broadly speaking in recent years. Today third-person narrative driven experiences that place a premium on cinematic excellence, are a big part of Sony’s portfolio. While the publisher’s lineup is nowhere near as cookie-cutter as that might sound, games likeGod of War2018,Ghost of Tsushima,andHorizon Forbidden West, have all been influenced to some extent by the adventures of Nathan Drake.
Even thoughUnchartedremains a big part of Sony’s plans, evidenced by how the franchise’s movie is the first PlayStation Productions release, there’s evidence that Naughty Dog’s time with the universe has come to an end. Considering how the studio took up a lead development role on the PS5’sUncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collectiona few months ago, that might seem like a bold statement to make.
However, if recent rumors and insider leaks are to be believed, the studio is currently working on severalThe Last of Usprojects and a new IP behind the scenes. Instead, there’s a sense that a different developer will be called uponto takeUnchartedforward, withNaughty Dogoffering support in a supervisory capacity.
