Naughty Dog co-president and The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann seems to have pushed back against some of the leaks that have come out about the studio. Since its inception in the 1980s, Naughty Dog has been one of the gaming industry's premiere developers, putting out one hit game after another. Once known for classic platformers like Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter, recent years have seen the studio take a more cinematic approach to its games with titles like Uncharted and The Last of Us.
Neil Druckmann has been a big part of leading the charge at Naughty Dog with the studio's latest projects. He's also helped expand Naughty Dog's IP to other media, as he co-created The Last of Us HBO series and is also serving as a writer and executive producer on the show. Druckmann's work has earned significant critical and commercial success, so it's no wonder many are anxious to see what's next from him and Naughty Dog.
The only confirmed Naughty Dog project that's in development is The Last of Us multiplayer game. However, leaks and rumors have suggested that Naughty Dog is making a new fantasy IP or a steampunk sci-fi game of some description. There have also been reports that Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us 3. In a recent tweet, Druckmann addressed the leaks. He promised "cool stuff" coming in 2023 that Naughty Dog will share with fans, while also saying they should be "wary" of insider info because "much of it is false."
Now, it's unclear what Druckmann is referring to specifically. It's possible he is using this tweet to debunk all the recent Naughty Dog leaks and rumors, but it's also possible he's referring to specific ones. Ultimately, fans won't know for sure if there's any truth behind the latest Naughty Dog leaks until the studio formally announces its next project after The Last of Us multiplayer game, and it's really anyone's guess as to when that may be.
Historically, many Naughty Dog leaks and rumors have turned out to be accurate. The Last of Us remake leaked online well before it was officially announced, and many will recall the significant Last of Us 2 leak that spoiled some of the most shocking plot twists before it hit store shelves. That's not to say that all Naughty Dog leaks and rumors have been accurate over the years, though, so fans should take a "wait and see" approach when it comes to what's next from the acclaimed developer.