The Remaster
Naughty Dog
It’s grow to be one thing of a working joke within the business that Naughty Dog retains remastering and re-releasing their video games, even once they’re barely a number of years old. That as soon as once more got here up this previous week when it was revealed that The Last of Us Part 2, launched in 2020 on PS4, would get a PS5 update on January 19, 2024. For current gamers, it’s a $10 upgrade.
It’s true, that is…the fourth time they’ve finished one thing like this. TLOU 2 remastered joins 2022’s The Last of Us Part 1, remade for brand new programs. Uncharted, Legacy of Thieves, remastered of Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy. The Last of Us Remastered was again in 2014, a remaster of the PS3 model for PS4.
That’s so much, however I’m undecided I purchase the narrative that every one these remasters are prying Naughty Dog away from extra urgent tasks. I imply, you have a look at their launch cadence for his or her unique video games, and we now have:
- Uncharted 1 – 2007
- Uncharted 2 – 2009
- Uncharted 3 – 2011
- The Last of Us – 2013
- The Last of Us: Left Behind – 2014
- Uncharted 4 – 2016
- Uncharted: Lost Legacy – 2017
- The Last of Us Part II – 2020
That is…a type of accelerated cadence of releases for a AAA studio, a lot in order that it’s in all probability too a lot output, given the accusations of crunch at Naughty Dog over the years. But this, plus threading within the 4 remasters, that are typically not labored on by the principle Naughty Dog group, is so much.
The Last of Us Factions
Naughty Dog
The longest hole we see right here is 2020 to now, as we’re about to move into 2024. One of the explanations for that, we all know, is that Naughty Dog has been making an attempt to build out The Last of Us: Factions, its dwell service multiplayer recreation as a part of a recent dwell service push for Sony. But it’s reportedly probably not working, as evidenced by Bungie giving it a thumbs down once they had been consulted, and a few devs had been pulled from it. Other than that, Nathan Drake’s Uncharted story is over, The Last of Us might by no means get a Part III (I nonetheless assume it’ll) and what’s allegedly a brand new sci-fi IP is being labored on. So yeah, I do get the present hole, and I’ll principally blame Factions for it.
This recent controversy which turned out to be a $10 upgrade for a recreation PlayStation gamers already personal, is nothing. None of those remasters, as goofy as it might be that we’ve gotten 4, together with The Last of Us twice, appear to be interfering with Naughty Dog making main video games and expansions. Again, if something, they’re working too arduous and quick on these things to the detriment of their staff.
The present hole would be the longest, however who is aware of, positive, we’ll in all probability see an Uncharted 1-3 remake for PS5 quickly, given present developments.
Follow me on Twitter, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.
Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
