The Last of Us 2 PS5

Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann has claimed the developer's next game is "perhaps its most thrilling yet" and it could "redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming". Talking inside an interview released alongside today's Corporate Strategy Meeting, he comments on how he is working on a new dream project at Naughty Dog having helped develop a few already.

As the appreciation for the video game industry grows, Druckmann says the shift from uninterested to eager for more is represented by the huge success of HBO's TV adaptation of The Last of Us. Having hoped the show's first season would "bridge the gap between gamers and non-gamers", he praises it for spotlighting "gaming, illustrating the rich, immersive experiences it offers".

Now, it's claimed Naughty Dog's next — currently unannounced — game will further those efforts to bridge the gap. "This visibility excites me not only for our current project but for the broader potential of gaming to captivate a global audience. I'm eager to see how this new game resonates, especially following the success of The Last of Us, as it could redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming."

Following comments made after the cancellation of The Last of Us Multiplayer, it's confirmed Naughty Dog is working on "more than one ambitious, brand new single player game". It's possible one of them is The Last of Us 3, as Neil Druckmann has declared he has an idea for the concept of a third instalment. However, it's probably not what Naughty Dog will actually release yet. A new IP is one option, though some fans still yearn for the studio to return to its roots with a Jak & Daxter game.

What do you make of Druckmann's comments? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments below.

[source sony.com, via videogameschronicle.com]