[Vyse]

Article:

Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells will retire from Naughty Dog at the end of 2023, he announced.

"Working here has been awe inspiring and I have nothing but gratitude for everything that I've been able to learn and be a part of," Wells said in a message. "And, getting to collaborate with the passionate and driven teams at SIE and the other PlayStation Studios has been a pleasure. I've never taken for granted the opportunity I've had to be surrounded by such impressive creativity and talent and I'm thankful to all—past and present—for teaching me so much."

Wells continued, "There's never a perfect time to step away, but I'm incredibly confident that I'll be leaving the studio in the best hands. Neil and the rest of the capable and dynamic Studio Leadership Team are perfectly suited to ensure Naughty Dog continues to lead the industry—not only in the games we make, but the environment in which we make them. I am positive that Naughty Dog will continue to push the industry and our medium forward."

In light of Wells' departure, Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann provided an update on the developer's new leadership team going forward:

• Neil Druckmann will become co-head of studio alongside Wells until his departure, as well as head of creative.
• Alison Mori will become studio manager and head of operations.
• Arne Meyer will become head of culture and communications.
• Christian Gyrling will become head of technology.
• Erick Pangilinan and Jeremy Yates will become co-heads of the art departments.
• Anthony Newman will move into a new role as head of production and design.

Source: https://www.gematsu.com/2023/07/naughty-dog-co-president-evan-wells-to-retire-from-studio-at-end-of-2023

 

[Hostile_18]

Wish him all the best. Hopefully the change in management structure will be for the best and this doesn't indicate trouble behind the scenes.

 

[regawdless]

Kinda lost interest in their games and aren't even looking forward towards their next one unless they do something new and different. Let's see what Cuckmann will do.

 

[Relativ9]

They kind of lost me when they lost Amy Henning, it seems like they've forgotten how to just have fun in their games.

 

[GreyHorace]

• Neil Druckmann will become co-head of studio alongside Wells until his departure, as well as head of creative.

Oy vey. That does not inspire confidence at all. We gonna get more Abby golfing simulators for sure.

 

[Hostile_18]

I want a Abby, Ellie team up for Part 3. I think that would be an awesome dynamic.

 

[MildWolverine]

I'd like to see a prequel with Joel only. he's a great character, the babysitting in the first one was only tolerable because of his character.

 

[regawdless]

I want a Abby, Ellie trans up for Part 3. I think that would be an awesome dynamic.

Fixed

 

[Hostile_18]

Give the people what they want, cowards!

 

[Phil_t98]

retires from the studio, does that suggest he will go elsewhere or setup his own studio?

 

[Amorous Biscuit]

I don't think we'll see much of a shift of studio politics or creative output. ND will still be producing some of the best experiences in gaming, though I do hope they can evolve their gameplay loop as both Uncharted and TLOU have started feeling a bit formulaic.

Hope to see something new from them soon and wish Evan Wells all the best.

 

[MildWolverine]

retires from the studio, does that suggest he will go elsewhere or setup his own studio?

Probably, thats what almost all these people do, make new studios that go nowhere, flounder and die like Quiffy B, Jaffe, some blizzard devs, I guess it's an ambition thing mixed with greed, mixed with "my farts don't stink" these people think they're the stars, but it's their teams.

 

[and 3 others]

retires from the studio, does that suggest he will go elsewhere or setup his own studio?

I assume this was left unaddressed because saying one way or the other could suggest internal strife in ND.

 

[ManofTwo]

Sounds like the killed him.

 

[Grinchy]

Letting Dreck-Man become such a massive part of the company has been such a mistake.

 

[Chozofication]

Fuck him for not backing Hennig.

This studio is probably the most cringe in the whole "AAA" space.

 

[The_Mike]

*Some CEO from Xbox retires*
Gaf: "Holy shit Xbox is doomed lol everyones leaving that shit show"
*Some CEO from Playstation leaves*
Gaf: "Meh, it happens all the time in this business"

Also gaf:

*Some woke shit in a game*
Gaf: "Haha go woke go broke MF"
*Some woke shit in a Playstation game*
Gaf: "This is not woke!"

Me: *Laughing*

 

[Grinchy]

This is what Neil was worried about 10 years ago (timestamped):



Notice anything about the games and/or TV shows he's had his hands all over ever since?

 

[The_Mike]

This is what Neil was worried about 10 years ago (timestamped):



Notice anything about the games and/or TV shows he's had his hands all over ever since?

Today I learned that someone can sound so redundant and boring that a bullet through your head doesn't sound so bad anymore

 

[Hostile_18]

Every Naughty Dog thread ends the same way. Fuck me. Play the games you do enjoy then or the studio who's politics most align with your own if that's important to you.

 

[Joe T.]

Every Naughty Dog thread ends the same way. Fuck me. Play the games you do enjoy then or the studio who's politics most align with your own if that's important to you.

Nah, that's how we wound up in this woke-infected gaming environment. People don't need to shut up or go away, they need to get louder. A lot louder. Shame them, hard. They sure as hell didn't hold back in shaming men.

 

[Hostile_18]

Nah, that's how we wound up in this woke-infected gaming environment. People don't need to shut up or go away, they need to get louder. A lot louder. Shame them, hard. They sure as hell didn't hold back in shaming men.

Every game I just give my feedback and move on. What's the difference ultimately from them pushing their views on people and you doing the same? Either they will listen to the initial feedback and make adjustments or they won't. Vote with your wallet accordingly.

 

[Relativ9]

This is what Neil was worried about 10 years ago (timestamped):



Notice anything about the games and/or TV shows he's had his hands all over ever since?

He identified a pattern that every fucking associates degree designer or critic easily identify the first time they're tasked with doing a breakdown of industry trends. It's not a new or unique thought at all, but he sure sounds like he thinks it is. What is (was then) somewhat new however is the concept that this is a problem that needs to be solved come hell or high water (or game sales and standing in the zietgiest).

Niel Druckmann is the lecturing pastor trying to keep his flock from having sex before marrige, drinking, smoking, watching pornography, etc. He might have a point that those things aren't nessarily fantastic for young developing minds to get normalized (look at what's happened to Japan's young male population), but he's over-correcting to an extreme degree and comes off as a uppity prick while doing it.

Niels observation: Japanese developers oversexualize their female characters (Kortana is a fucking hologram, that's not sexualized come on).
Niels solution: Gender is a social construct and my female characters should have as few physically appealing features as possible, the men can still be classicly handsome though, that's fine.

Evan Wells always seemed like a pretty straightforward dude who just wanted his studio to be known for making great games, he never came of as having "a message" and letting go of Amy Henning in favor of Niel was his biggest blunder.

 

[Hostile_18]

I mean Amy Henning had a good run with games but ultimately she hasn't been able to launch a game since Uncharted 3, over 12 years ago. Neil and Bruce were only brought in (not through choice) because the Uncharted 4 project wasn't coming together. I think Amy has to take a fair chunk of the responsibility here, no one has that much bad luck.

 

[gameragodzilla]

I mean Amy Henning had a good run with games but ultimately she hasn't been able to launch a game since Uncharted 3, over 12 years ago. Neil and Bruce were only brought in (not through choice) because the Uncharted 4 project wasn't coming together. I think Amy has to take a fair chunk of the responsibility here, no one has that much bad luck.

Regardless, the stuff Amy Hennig did put out were all bangers, while Neil Druckmann's Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy were a definite step down. And The Last of Us 1 was only decent because of his co-writer, and The Last of Us 2 was The Last Jedi of video games. So I have zero faith in Neil Druckmann to be able to run the ship well.

Oh well, Uncharted was still great while it lasted, and each entry has an ending so I don't need any more.

 

[Relativ9]

I mean Amy Henning had a good run with games but ultimately she hasn't been able to launch a game since Uncharted 3, over 12 years ago. Neil and Bruce were only brought in (not through choice) because the Uncharted 4 project wasn't coming together. I think Amy has to take a fair chunk of the responsibility here, no one has that much bad luck.

True, but I do wonder how much of that was because she was being forced to work on projects or take projects in directions she didn't want. It's pretty clear from the story of Uncharted 3 that she always intended that to be the ending for example. And as for her time at Viceral, that was almost certainly because EA wanted a more GAAS direction for their Star Wars license games and she had been making a single player space adventure.

Now she's back in charge of a Star Wars project so I guess we'll see how that goes.

TLDR: I don't think it's that she's unable to get a game release due to any failings on her part, but she's a singleplayer game dinosaur, in a season pass Mammalian world.

 

[gameragodzilla]

True, but I do wonder how much of that was because she was being forced to work on projects or take projects in directions she didn't want. It's pretty clear from the story of Uncharted 3 that she always intended that to be the ending for example. And as for her time at Viceral, that was almost certainly because EA wanted a more GAAS direction for their Star Wars license games and she had been making a single player space adventure.

Now she's back in charge of a Star Wars project so I guess we'll see how that goes.

TLDR: I don't think it's that she's unable to get a game release due to any failings on her part, but she's a singleplayer game dinosaur, in a season pass Mammalian world.

Funnily enough, the absolute failure of EAfront 2's launch (which took years to un-fuck) combined with the success of games like Jedi Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, and Squadrons probably pushed EA back towards the single player game again. The dinosaurs are making a comeback. lol

Does make me think the Amy Hennig Visceral game would've survived to see the light of day had it been developed now rather than back in the late 2010's.

 

[Chozofication]

Every Naughty Dog thread ends the same way. Fuck me. Play the games you do enjoy then or the studio who's politics most align with your own if that's important to you.

Please start eating red meat

 

[gameragodzilla]

Please start eating red meat

Yeah, part of the issue is the politics are affecting the games. Amy Hennig is left leaning, but her politics didn't bleed into the first 3 Uncharted games to the point of being unenjoyable to play. Neil Druckmann doesn't have that restraint.

 

[Chozofication]

Yeah, part of the issue is the politics are affecting the games. Amy Hennig is left leaning, but her politics didn't bleed into the first 3 Uncharted games to the point of being unenjoyable to play. Neil Druckmann doesn't have that restraint.

I agree though I wouldn't describe it as "bleeding in" but rather the entire fucking point of his direction.

This is one of the things in the industry that happened that legitimately pissed me off, that pos ousting Hennig.

I really had a fondness for Uncharted, and although Druckmann wasn't able to completely ruin uc4 it was stained with his prints and would have been much better under her as it was originally.

 

[gameragodzilla]

I agree though I wouldn't describe it as "bleeding in" but rather the entire fucking point of his direction.

This is one of the things in the industry that happened that legitimately pissed me off, that pos ousting Hennig.

I really had a fondness for Uncharted, and although Druckmann wasn't able to completely ruin uc4 it was stained with his prints and would have been much better under her as it was originally.

Agreed. It's good Uncharted 4 still had enough Hennig in it to not completely suck (unlike Indy 5 which completely lacked any Spielberg or Lucas), but you could still see Druckmann trying to fuck it up.

 

[Dacon]

After Uncharted 4 I lost all interest in any of this studios future output. If they make something brand new I MIGHT be interested in giving it a look, but Neil Druckmann is a big pass for me.

 

[GreyHorace]

I personally have no interest in playing games made by a douche who doesn't think they should be 'fun.'

 

[regawdless]

I personally have no interest in playing games made by a douche who doesn't think they should be 'fun.'

Wait what. Is this real and if so, where is it from?

 

[GreyHorace]

Wait what. Is this real and if so, where is it from?

"We don't use the word 'fun'" says The Last of Us 2 director Neil Druckmann

Ellie's adventure in The Last of Us 2 is not a joyride

www.gamesradar.com

 

[Dacon]

Wait what. Is this real and if so, where is it from?

Wow you didn't see this back during TLOU2's press tour? It's one of his most infamous quotes, and the one thing that let me know that TLOU2 was going to be shit.

If your game isn't trying to be fun to play, what the hell am I doing playing it???

 

[Hostile_18]

I personally have no interest in playing games made by a douche who doesn't think they should be 'fun.'

See this is what I mean its taking something twisting it to make a point. He was asked if the combat could be made less serious. Which would totally undermine what the game is trying to do.

Movies are the same. They don't all have to be fun, as long as they are entertaining/engaging. Hell that's one of the the biggest complaints of Marvel is too many quips even in serious situations. The game had a mission of getting you watching a well loved character die to a place of forgiveness. While not exactly Schindlers List it isn't really a "fun" game, rather a complex character study into revenge, forgiveness and if the ends justify the means.

 

[Dacon]

See this is what I mean its taking something twisting it to make a point. He was asked if the combat could be made less serious. Which would totally undermine what the game is trying to do.

Movies are the same. They don't all have to be fun, as long as they are entertaining/engaging. Hell that's one of the the biggest complaints of Marvel is too many quips even in serious situations. The game had a mission of getting you watching a well loved character die to a place of forgiveness. While not exactly Schindlers List it isn't really a "fun" game, rather a complex character study into revenge, forgiveness and if the ends justify the means.

He's not going to fuck you.

 

[Hostile_18]

He's not going to fuck you.

I have said my criticisms of his politics and some elements of the Last of Us: Part 2 before. I am just able to have a balanced view, rather than think he shot my dog.

 

[GreyHorace]

See this is what I mean its taking something twisting it to make a point. He was asked if the combat could be made less serious. Which would totally undermine what the game is trying to do.

Movies are the same. They don't all have to be fun, as long as they are entertaining/engaging. Hell that's one of the the biggest complaints of Marvel is too many quips even in serious situations. The game had a mission of getting you watching a well loved character die to a place of forgiveness. While not exactly Schindlers List it isn't really a "fun" game, rather a complex character study into revenge, forgiveness and if the ends justify the means.

Cuckmann's argument is bullshit. He's trying to argue that the player should feel uncomfortable doing horrendous stuff in TLOU2. I'm sorry, but does he realize what kind of industry he's working in?

Videogames have allowed gamers to commit numerous acts of heinous violence since the days of Atari. The Last of Us 2 is not special in this regard and quite frankly Cuckmann's insistence that his title has a more thoughtful approach on the nature of violence is horseshit. The fact that he likes to emphasize on these elements makes me think he likens his game to a snuff film.

Yeah, there I said it. I find TLOU2 to be comparable to a snuff film with how it fetishizes it's violence.

Frankly, Red Dead Redemption 2 did a much better job in making the player uncomfortable doing violent acts, and that was through it's story and characters. And at least Rockstar had the decency to not lecture gamers that they were pieces of shit for having fun with the game.