Naughty Dog cancels secret project and focuses on new narrative

Naughty Dog would have quietly shelved an unannounced single-player game in early 2025, according to information from insider DanielRPK. The project was under the leadership of Vinit Agarwal, who worked on The Last of Us: Part II and took on this new endeavor after the cancellation of The Last of Us Online. Despite over a year of development, the game was terminated in its early stages, and Agarwal ended up leaving the studio soon after.

Nevertheless, the California studio continues with another single-player project in progress, supposedly for about three years. This new game would be in the hands of Shaun Escayg, known for his work on Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Rumors indicate it could be a remake of the first Uncharted, but nothing has been officially confirmed.

Furthermore, Naughty Dog is currently working on a new sci-fi IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, revealed at The Game Awards 2024. The game promises an intense narrative experience, with a soundtrack signed by none other than Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and a bounty hunter protagonist trapped on an unknown planet.

After giving up on the "games as a service" model with the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer, Naughty Dog seems to be doubling down on what it does best: deep stories, memorable characters, and single-player experiences that truly stand out.