The PlayStation first-party studio Naughty Dog’s contract developers are not spared from the current wave of layoffs hitting the video game industry. The developer of popular games like The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End has started terminating contracts with dozens of employees.
However, the majority of those terminated, worked in quality assurance testing, while departments ranging from art to production were also affected. At least 25 developers, according to the sources, were part of the cuts. The layoffs do not appear to have affected full-time employees.
More freaking lay offs! Strikes are a coming. @Naughty_Dog disappointing. https://t.co/GC7YexxMY6
— Aaron Jordan (@Insomniaaron2) October 3, 2023
Even though The Last of Us’ HBO adaptation had high ratings, the multiplayer zombie shooter that is based on the first game’s Factions mode has had trouble getting off the ground. Following a dissatisfactory internal evaluation by Bungie, the recently acquired live-service behemoth behind Destiny 2, Bloomberg reported in June that Sony had moved resources away from the project.
The layoffs follow studio co-president Evan Wells’ announcement that he would leave Naughty Dog at the end of 2023 after 19 years of service. The studio leadership was also reorganized around the same time, according to Neil Druckmann, the creative director and primary co-writer on the most recent Uncharted and The Last of Us games as well as a contributor to the HBO series.
The Last of Us 2 Remastered confirmed by Naughty Dog’s Lead Outsource Artist
The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered rumors surface at a turbulent time for PlayStation. There have been recent rumors of layoffs at the gaming behemoth company. Additionally, there was the rumor of the suspension of the multiplayer version of The Last of Us Factions.
The creation of the remastered version might be an intentional strategy to keep staff members interested. This will buy some time till the firm gets ready to release its upcoming original game.
Mark Pajarillo, Naughty Dog’s main outsourcing artist, updated his LinkedIn page, which set the rumors in motion. He talked about overseeing the production of the art materials for The Last of Us: Part One and The Last of Us 2: Remastered. The rumor for the potential of a refurbished version of the well-known game first started from here.
Breaking: The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered has basically been confirmed for #PS5 by one of Naughty Dog’s employees.
Are you hyped? 👀 pic.twitter.com/3auvLmvyBk
— Joe Miller (@JoeMiller101) October 6, 2023
These kinds of rumors have appeared before as well. There were also rumors that Naughty Dog was developing a better version of the game exclusively for the PlayStation. However, neither Naughty Dog nor PlayStation have made any public statements on the matter.
The specific enhancements and upgrades that the remastered version may offer are yet unknown. Gamers can probably anticipate improved graphics and perhaps even more content. This anticipation stems from the pattern seen with the first game’s remastered edition, which featured comparable improvements.
The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered rumors means that fans can anticipate an improved version for the PlayStation 5. It may possibly come with new features and enhancements. However, the precise upgrades and release date are still unknown in the absence of a formal announcement.