Naughty Doghas had an interesting month, and the future of the developer should prove just as intriguing. While it has taken a hit to its stellar reputation because of the disastrous PC port ofThe Last of Us Part 1, it has been working to get the game into a better place. The highly anticipated multiplayer spin-off for the same franchise will provide an opportunity to showNaughty Dog’s talent once again, and beyond that, fans wonder about a thirdLast of Usgame and a long-rumored new IP.
Naughty Dog has seemingly teased a sci-fi game already, and even theSavage Starlight collectibles fromThe Last of Uscan be viewed as an interest in exploring futuristic concepts. With rumors that such a game is being planned also appearing online over the years, it seems like only a matter of time before Naughty Dog moves away from the modern settings seen in its last decade and a half of games. If and when it does begin development of a sci-fi game, one mod for the PC version ofThe Last of Usmight just prove that first person gameplay is worth a try.
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A First Person Game Would Be a Bold New Direction for Naughty Dog
The Last of Usfirst person modwas designed by Voyagers Revenge, and while it is still in development, players have gotten to see it in action through a trailer. The footage shows just how differentThe Last of Usfeels with a new perspective, coming off far scarier and more like a proper survival horror title than it does in third person. Every combat encounter and all the looks at the game’s NPCs have a different feel to them in an FPS style, as do the weapons and locations.
While an official first person game set inThe Last of Usuniverse is unlikely, as the critically acclaimed franchise is deeply rooted in third person gameplay,Naughty Dog’s new IPis a perfect opportunity to embrace a perspective change. The studio’s growth has been impressive to watch, as seeing it go fromCrash BandicootandJak and DaxtertoUnchartedandThe Last of Ushas been nothing short of amazing. Now, another big shift could happen, with the studio embracing first person gameplay.
While there are some great narratives in first person games likeBioShockand the modernWolfensteintitles, it is often viewed as a less common place for powerful stories. Considering that Naughty Dog has left its mark on gaming through impactful narratives and top-notch characters, the studio could do a lot to help alleviate any negative assumptions about the FPS genre. Further, with Sony in desperate need of its own exclusive shooters sinceKillzoneandResistancehave gone dormant, Naughty Dog has a chance to fill that void.
It is also worth noting that sci-fi naturally lends itself to a first-person perspective.Games likeNo Man’s Sky,Halo, andDestiny 2allow players to immerse themselves in futuristic worlds full of aliens and unique environments, withStarfieldset to do the same on Xbox very soon. Players being able to look around and move through environments as if they are actually there is always immersive, and with Naughty Dog always delivering breathtaking visuals, an FPS would undoubtedly be a stunner.
The Last of Us’ first person mod will surely not influence Naughty Dog one way or another, as it will likely have already decided on what perspective its next game will have behind the scenes. However, the mod does show players how much potential a first personNaughty Doggame would have. Gameplay would be different from any other title the studio has released, and its story could be delivered in a new way, with players potential creating a character and choosing from dialogue in a uniquesci-fi setting.
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