The Naughty Dog rumor mill is rumbling once again. While the studio is officially working on "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" and Neil Druckmann emphasizes that the future of "The Last of Us" remains uncertain, something else could be happening in the background. According to an insider, Naughty Dog has been working on a secret title for three years - under the direction of Shaun Escayg, the director of "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy". Time for speculation!
Shaun Escayg returns to the top
The information comes from DanielRPKa well-known insider who published his report behind a paywall. It reads: "Naughty Dog has a second project (not 'The Last of Us III') under the direction of Shaun Escayg. Development has been underway for three years.„
This revelation is not uninteresting. Shaun Escayg was the creative mind behind 'Uncharted: The Lost Legacy', one of the best standalone expansions in PlayStation history. After a brief stint at Crystal Dynamics and Marvel's Avengers, he returned to Naughty Dog in 2021. Since then, his exact role has been unclear - until now.
Although there are no concrete indications that this is a new "Uncharted", the connection is obvious. In the past, Naughty Dog has not only established "Uncharted The Lost Legacy" as a spin-off, but has also hinted that the "Uncharted" universe has not yet been exhausted. The official word is that the series has come to an end.
What is particularly exciting is that the community has been circulating Rumors about a game with Cassie Drakethe daughter of Nathan Drake. Could Naughty Dog herald a generational shift and continue the Uncharted saga with a new heroine? Kaitlyn Dever, who played Cassie in "Uncharted 4", is currently strongly associated with Naughty Dog - she plays Abby in the upcoming second season of HBO's "The Last of Us". Pure coincidence?
Uncharted or new IP?
But there is also another possibility: Shaun Escayg could be working on a brand new IP. Naughty Dog is known for not sticking to a single brand forever. After 'Crash Bandicoot' came 'Jak and Daxter', then 'Uncharted' and finally 'The Last of Us'. Wouldn't it be time for a fresh adventure?
Neil Druckmann himself said that he approaches every project without reservations and that the "right ideas" are crucial. Therefore The Last of Us: Part III" is not completely off the table either. So perhaps we can expect neither an "Uncharted 5" nor "The Last of Us III", but a completely new story with Shaun Escayg's signature.
Whether it's a new "Uncharted", a Cassie spin-off or a completely new IP - Naughty Dog is definitely working on something big. However, it will probably be a while before the official announcement. After all, the studio has already emphasized that the focus is on working on "Intergalactic".
What do you think? Would you celebrate a new "Uncharted" with Cassie Drake or would you prefer a brand new IP?
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