Naughty Dog faces development shifts following live-service strategy

Naughty Dog is facing challenges in its development pipeline following a shift in strategy toward live-service games. Former designer Benson Russell has suggested that the studio’s upcoming project, ‘Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’, may need adjustments to avoid the controversies surrounding ‘The Last of Us Part 2’. Specifically, he noted concerns regarding gameplay mechanics, side missions, and the potential for overly long development cycles.

Reports indicate that much of the studio's recent productivity was diverted toward a live-service project for ‘The Last of Us’ that was ultimately cancelled. This shift has contributed to a lack of new releases from the studio since 2020, with the next major project not expected until closer to the release of the PlayStation 6 era. This trend mirrors similar strategic shifts at other Sony-owned studios like Guerrilla Games, where efforts toward live-service titles have impacted the release timelines of established franchises.