The PlayStation-owned studio Naughty Dog has produced some of the best exclusives over various generations, and fans are excited to know what it has in store next. For what it's worth, Naughty Dog is reportedly working on a brand new sci-fi game called Stray's Cross for the PS5.
While it's too early to accept or deny the existence of this alleged new IP, set in an entirely new universe, there have been some interesting rumors that set the premise for this game. With that in mind, here's what we would like to see from Naughty Dog's rumored new IP Stray's Cross.
Like The Last of Us, A Shift in Perspective
Past Naughty Dog games like Uncharted and The Last of Us are all third-person shooter games, played from the over-the-shoulder view. Although both are different franchises with a completely different tone, they have few things in common. For instance, the traversal and the combat feel similar in Uncharted 3 and The Last of Us.
With Stray's Cross, Naughty Dog could change the fundamentals by making a first-person game. Naughty Dog's strength lies in making impeccable character-driven stories, and a first-person perspective could intensify that experience. Moreover, it could change the structure of how combat and traversal work, resulting in a unique from Naughty Dog experience.
At the same time, Naughty Dog could opt for a first-person perspective, or they could give players the option to choose between a first-person perspective or a third-person perspective. Interestingly, the Stray's Cross rumors do point to a first-person perspective game. Either way, fans have to wait and find out.
Naughty Dog Sci-Fi: Flashy Weapons and Supernatural Abilities
Recent Naughty Dog games are all grounded in reality. While The Last of Us shoves players into a post-apocalyptic universe brimming with infected creatures, it still has a very subtle way of doing it. In The Last of Us universe, the infected are not bloodthirsty zombies but a mutated fungus that exists in real life. Things are different with Stray's Cross as it's rumored to take place in a steampunk universe.
However, it isn't the first time that Naughty Dog is descending into the sci-fi genre. One of the studio's founding franchises, Jax and Daxter, has its roots all over the cyberpunk and steampunk genres. While Stray's Cross could be a spiritual successor to Jax and Daxter, Naughty Dog has to go beyond that to make a fulfilling next-gen experience. One way it could do that is by changing how the combat works.
Both Uncharted and The Last of Us are, at the end of the day, third-person shooter games. With Stray's Cross, Naughty Dog has the opportunity to shake things up a bit. Ditching traditional weapons for supernatural abilities would work wonders in a steampunk game. Naughty Dog could also take full advantage of the DualSense features to make these abilities "feel" different. The addition of snazzy abilities would fundamentally change how the game works, allowing Stray's Cross to feel like a fresh new experience, even for the veteran Naughty Dog fans.
It could also allow Naughty Dog to go haywire and craft unique sci-fi guns, a must for a game set in a steampunk universe. It could take a note out of PlayStation's own, The Order 1886, which had some of the most unique, innovative, and fun weapons ever in a steampunk game. The addition of diverse, fantastical weapons could also significantly affect crafting in Stray's Cross, which was prominent in The Last of Us games.
The Last of Us vs. Uncharted: A Balance of Tone
The Last of Us went in a completely different direction from Crash Bandicoot and Uncharted. The latter are goofy, downright funny at times, and incredibly light-hearted. On the other hand, The Last of Us is a grim, often disturbing experience set in the backdrop of a brutal and unforgiving universe. The sequel dived even deeper, examining the intricacies of tribalism and the cycle of violence.
The chances of The Last of Us 3 happening are high given the success of part 2, and it's no doubt that it would just be dark and disturbing. To keep things fresh, Naughty Dog could take a different approach with Stray's Cross. It doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be as humorous as Uncharted, though it would be great to see Naughty Dog make another light-hearted experience. Stray's Cross could instead strike a balance between the two, catering to the fans of both series. It could result in a game having the essence of both Uncharted and The Last of Us while also being a unique experience in its own ways, not to mention inclusive.
The Last of Us 2: Multiple Protagonists
Many video games feature multiple playable characters whose sole purpose is to depict a different side of the same story. However, only a few offer a balanced experience like The Last of Us 2. In a way, The Last of Us 2 is Ellie's journey but Abby's story. Naughty Dog didn't leave any stones unturned to depict its theme of the cycle of violence. The second half of The Last of Us 2, which players experience through the shoes of Abby, is just as heart-wrenching, unforgiving, and unforgettable as the one before, if not more. The Last of Us 2 does an incredible job of placing the prominent narrative moments in a way that has the most impact on players when they unfold, resulting in a multidimensional cinematic experience, a first for Naughty Dog.
The narrative endeavors that Naughty Dog took with The Last of Us 2 were the studio's most ambitious, and it would be surprising if it goes back and makes a more straightforward storyline for its next game. Stray's Cross is rumored to feature two playable characters, just like The Last of Us 2, and it would be interesting to see how coherent its narrative feels thanks to its two protagonists.
Stray's Cross could also take a step further by having a black or colored protagonist. Early rumors seemed to indicate that Naughty Dog was hiring for a middle-aged black African-American protagonist. While there is nothing concrete to fuel this rumor, many would appreciate it if Naughty Dog takes its time to craft a well-written and complex black character. Naughty Dog could also feature an Indian American protagonist, which the AAA industry currently lacks, or any other number of nationalities. Indeed, representation is still sorely lacking in AAA space, and the step-up here would be a welcome one.
Stray's Cross, if it exists, could still be years away from releasing. Naughty Dog has confirmed that it has multiple projects in development though it has yet to show what they are. Given Naughty Dog's track record, if Stray's Cross is coming before The Last of Us Remake, it would still be years away at this point.
Stray's Cross is rumored to be in development.