PlayStation Studios Development

[the-pi-guy]

Crazy news.  I've accepted an offer to be Narrative Director for PlayStation's new studio Savage in Helsinki.

— Kim MacAskill (@kimmacaskill1) November 2, 2022

She was the narrative lead for Fable and Suicide Squad.

Feels like a big hire for a mobile studio.

[the-pi-guy]

Naughty Dog
Creative Director Neil Druckmann (?) (TLoU3?)
Game Director Kurt Margenau (?) (TLoU3?)
Creative Director Shaun Escayg (?) (did TLoU1) (Uncharted?)
Game Director Matthew Gallant (?) (did TLoU1) (Uncharted?)
Creative Director Legend Pettinati (TLoU Online)
Game Director Anthony Newman (TLoU Online)
Game Director Vinit Agarwal (TLoU Online)

Insomniac
Creative Director Bryan Intihar (Spider man 2)
Game Director Ryan Smith (Spider man 2)
Creative Director Brian Horton (Wolverine)
Game Director Cameron Christian (Wolverine)
Creative Director Marcus Smith (?) (did Ratchet)
Game Director Mike Daly (?) (did Ratchet)
Creative Director Lauren Preston (?) (new hire)

Insomniac and Naughty Dog are likely working on 3+ games each right now.  

Naughty Dog (TLOU Online, Uncharted most likely and probably TLOU3 or a new IP)

Insomniac Games (Wolverine, Spiderman 2, online game, maybe the next Ratchet?)

[nnodley]

Honestly I feel a new uncharted and tlou, while less risky, at least are established franchises to give some good ps5 hits hopefully. And hopefully then they can do a new IP towards the end of the ps5 cycle.  So much risk for new IPs and world building that hopefully they can get UC and Tlou 3 out faster than waiting for a single new IP

[Legend]

Why would nd do uncharted? I thought the plan was to give it to another studio.

[the-pi-guy]

Why would nd do uncharted? I thought the plan was to give it to another studio.

Naughty Dog recruiter seemingly hints at plans for more Uncharted games

Another job listing says Sony's new studio is working with Naughty Dog on 'a beloved franchise'

Now, another job listing has been published, based in the same San Diego area as Visual Arts. Although it doesn't make specific reference to the studio, it states that the role is for "a new PlayStation studio based in San Diego, CA."

It goes on to state that, "currently we are co-developing an exciting new project with Naughty Dog in a beloved franchise

[kitler53]

unless uncharted gets a reboot like GoW did I'm not that interested.  

4 main lines games, an excellent spin off, and that vita game plus all the rereleased is enough for me.  

I want something new and I really don't want some other studio making low quality games and stain the franchise. 

[nnodley]

Yeah I think if anything ND isn't going to be doing  full production on a new one but more being a support studio I guess. That's more like what it sounds like. Which I think would be best so that keeps them open to doing tlou and a new IP hopefully and Sony still gets more uncharted franchise.

I think the Nathan drake portion is done and gone though I'd personally take more with him as the main. But I'd rather have more Chloe and Nadine. Or Nate's daughter takes over. Tons of possibilities

[Legend]

Yeah I think if anything ND isn't going to be doing  full production on a new one but more being a support studio I guess. That's more like what it sounds like. Which I think would be best so that keeps them open to doing tlou and a new IP hopefully and Sony still gets more uncharted franchise.

I think the Nathan drake portion is done and gone though I'd personally take more with him as the main. But I'd rather have more Chloe and Nadine. Or Nate's daughter takes over. Tons of possibilities

That's what I expected too, but maybe nd isn't fully ready to hand it over. Want to avoid a 343 situation.

unless uncharted gets a reboot like GoW did I'm not that interested.  

4 main lines games, an excellent spin off, and that vita game plus all the rereleased is enough for me.  

I want something new and I really don't want some other studio making low quality games and stain the franchise.

U4 tried to do a lot of new things but they didn't really stick. Not sure what they could reinvent a la gow 2018.

[the-pi-guy]

I think ND might be over 500 now. Firesprite are close to 300. Santa Monica are over 300 now. Bend are only just over a 100. I think all the rest are bang on. We forgot Valkyrie who are around 50.

As we grow our team for the next generation of AAA games, we are seeking new talent to join us in beautiful Central Oregon. We are over 150 strong, from backgrounds as diverse as games, film, TV, illustration, advertising, and marketing. We share a drive for quality and originality in all we do.

Bend Studio Careers

[the-pi-guy]

Naughty Dog has a new Principal Monetization Designer.
He also created the menetization for Fortnite. pic.twitter.com/7552aZ1DPM

— Yuri (@yuraagayan97) November 8, 2022

Assuming TLOU Online will be free to play with billions of microtransactions.

Era Thread: Horizon MMO might be in development at NCSoft (Big Korean studio, published Guild Wars 2)

[kitler53]

Assuming TLOU Online will be free to play with billions of microtransactions.

it would be bad if it wasn't imo.  this cannot be a $70 title like destruction all-stars.   free to play and cross play with a day-1 PC release or this is DoA.  

i'm tired of the "battle pass" thing and would love is someone could invest a better monetization strategy but i have no good ideas.  i just know i'm kind of tired of the FOMO daily grid in order to "earn" the cosmetic items i payed for.   i kind of like the fundamental idea behind halo where a battle pass doesn't expire at least.  that means i could buy in and not care that GoW came out and for a few weeks i just don't want to play your dang game,.. i'll come back later but i just want a break for a while.   As is,.. i avoid GaaS games for entire seasons at a time because of this "3 month" "commitment" induced by battle passes.

That's what I expected too, but maybe nd isn't fully ready to hand it over. Want to avoid a 343 situation.U4 tried to do a lot of new things but they didn't really stick. Not sure what they could reinvent a la gow 2018.

and i don't know either.    maybe go reverse GoW and move to a top down perspective?   jk.   

i'm not generally a fan of open world games but maybe there's a way to make that work?   maybe not fully open world but sections of open world where you are more true to life in that "exploration" bit that is fundamental to the concept of being a treasure hunter.  they kind of did that in lost legacy but not to the extent that it make uncharted feel fresh.

an uncharted puzzle game?  drop all the gun play and make it just a "tomb raiding" experience with heavy focus on in-depth complicated puzzles?  i'd like that even if no one else would....

uncharted racing sim?


...off-topic but how annoying is it that uncharted has been around forever but if i google it today the only results that are displayed are related the movie.  

[nnodley]

an uncharted puzzle game?  drop all the gun play and make it just a "tomb raiding" experience with heavy focus on in-depth complicated puzzles?  i'd like that even if no one else would....

honestly i'd be so down for this.  Some of the puzzles from Uncharted 2 are my favorite.  Make them huge in scope and really elaborate.

[kitler53]

honestly i'd be so down for this.  Some of the puzzles from Uncharted 2 are my favorite.  Make them huge in scope and really elaborate.

HA!  clearly i should be in game development because my ideas are officially genious!

but yes,.. my favorite bits of the uncharted games are the more relaxed bits and not the gunplay.  I wouldn't say any puzzle in uncharted or tomb raider was exactly all that intellectually stimulating but i still like them.  a game focused on this aspect would totally be up my alley.   like a pretty version of an escape room.

[the-pi-guy]

Inside the making of God of War Ragnarök: “Holy crud, the game's not good. What are we going to do?” | British GQ

Eric Williams said SMS has ~400 people.

Hard to say though if that was just peak development time or a reliable number now.

[kitler53]

New idea.  Uncharted space.  

So largely the formula of uncharted is preserved.   But this time the story takes place thousands of years into the future after the rise and fall of some future ancient civilization.  "Drake" is still a treasure hunter but instead of the ruins being all sticks and stones modern and even future technologies become fair game(play).  Portals? Of course. Gravity guns? Why not.  Original ideas?  That's up to the professionals...