Naughty Dog has grown into one of the most popular gaming studios with its top-notch technology and limitless resources. Its next game will inevitably draw eyes to the PlayStation 5 and draw upon its power to great effect. However, it remains a mystery exactly what their subsequent work will actually be.For all we know, it could be another entry in the studio’s post-apocalyptic Last of Us franchise, or even an entirely new property. It’s likely, though, that Naughty Dog is not interested in resurrecting their older franchises. Crash Bandicoot already came back under Activision, while Naughty Dog has shown no sign of interest in a Jak and Daxter reboot. Consider that Naughty Dog has been creating iconic games for PlayStation consoles since 1996’s Crash Bandicoot, in which the titular marsupial collected apples, smashed boxes, and ran away from boulders. Thanks to Crash Bandicoot’s success, Sony officially bought the studio, and they started a new franchise with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. When that open-world platformer series ran its course, Naughty Dog transitioned to more serious games like Uncharted. Uncharted’s Nathan Drake quickly became a PlayStation mascot, and his cinematic adventures were a big draw for the consoles. Though Uncharted was story-heavy, it struck a whimsical tone. The same can’t be said for Naughty Dog’s next franchise The Last of Us, built as it was upon a dark world fueled by revenge, hate, and sorrow. For many, it was a masterpiece, but Naughty Dog followed it up with a controversial sequel. Now that The Last of UsPart II is in the wild, Naughty Dog is working on a new project and all bets are off. Thus, the question becomes: what is next for this prestigious studio?The Last of Us 3When the credits rolled, The Last of Us’ story felt complete. It was a perfect ending for Joel and Ellie’s journey, perfectly balancing ambiguity with deep character analysis. That’s why fans felt a mixture of excitement and unease when The Last of Us Part II was announced – they feared a sequel may undermine the impact of the first game. To make matters worse, Naughty Dog said it was a direct continuation of the original. In other words, they were two parts of one larger story, rather than two distinct works that could stand on their own merits. The Last of Us Part II may not be as universally acclaimed, but it did bring the story to an end. Nevertheless, The Last of Us Part 3 predictions came from the big man himself, director and co-writer Neil Druckmann. In an interview, Druckmann admitted that his mind drifted to The Last of Us Part 3 as he finished the sequel. While Druckmann doesn’t definitively confirm it, another Last of Us title is not out of the question.If The Last of Us Part 3 is a reality, then there are specific things we would want. Ellie’s journey ran its course, so Naughty Dog should explore other stories. Preferably, we would play as Joel before he meets Ellie, during the period of time right after The Last of Us’ opening that has yet to be explored. After all, Joel’s brutal measures caused tension between him and his brother, which would be a fascinating dynamic to explore. Beyond just a Joel-focused prequel, The Last of Us should take players to new locations and focus on new characters. At the very least, it would be wise to leave the Fireflies behind and start anew.A Full Last of Us Factions Game The original Last of Us launched with a methodical and strategic player-versus-player mode called Factions. The limited ammo, stealthy gameplay, and low health served to make Factions an intense experience. It was an underrated portion of the original, and fans were eagerly awaiting the next installment. Unfortunately, Naughty Dog delivered frustrating news in September: Factions won’t release with The Last of Us Part II. The studio discussed the campaign’s ambition and their desire to make the best game possible, revealing that Factions “grew beyond an additional mode”. The news was frustrating in itself, but raised the possibility that Factions could become a full-scale game. Naughty Dog revealed they are not working on a single-player expansion for The Last of Us Part II, creating a content void that Factions could fill. A full co-op campaign could expand Factions into a full-length multiplayer game. Naturally, the Infected also need to make an appearance in PvP games, especially given how the terrifying sound of Clickers could intensify and interrupt any encounter. Lastly, settlement preservation would need to return with a greater emphasis on online mechanics and deep customization. An Unexpected Genre
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