Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Vinit Agarwal, former Naughty Dog Game Director and key contributor to notable games like The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted 4, has departed the studio and is establishing a new development studio in Japan, with plans to focus on multiplayer games.
- Neil Druckmann, who recently stepped back from the HBO live-action adaptation of The Last of Us, is now fully immersed in game development at Naughty Dog, working on a brand-new game titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet which explores themes of faith and religion.
- There are whispers that the new studio formed by Vinit Agarwal may pick up where The Last of Us Online left off, a project that Naughty Dog scrapped in December 2023 due to resource constraints.
- Naughty Dog recently updated The Last of Us Part II Remastered, introducing a new way to approach the storyline chronologically and is rumored to be working on a return to the Uncharted universe.
Former Naughty Dog Game Director Vinit Agarwal and Joe Pettinati Depart Studio Post-The Last of Us Online Cancellation
Naughty Dog stands as one of PlayStation’s most reputable studios, consistently producing landmark titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted across generations of consoles. The studio is known for its meticulous attention to detail, a process that sometimes includes a “crunch culture,” and it employs some of the industry’s elite developers. Despite this, Naughty Dog has experienced significant personnel turnover in recent years, particularly following the release of The Last of Us Part II and, more recently, after the cancellation of The Last of Us Online. Among those departing is Vinit Agarwal, a former Game Director who spent ten years at Naughty Dog. During his tenure, Agarwal contributed to the development of Uncharted 4, its standalone expansion Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, and The Last of Us Part II. Most recently, he served as director for the standalone The Last of Us Online multiplayer project, which ultimately did not materialize. Agarwal announced his departure via a LinkedIn post this past January. Joe Pettinati, another familiar face from The Last of Us Online team, also left Naughty Dog this year.
Agarwal has now embarked on a new venture, announcing on July 8th that he is forming a new development studio in Japan. He indicated via social media in June of last year that he intended to continue making multiplayer games, driven by his passion for the genre. He is relocating to Japan this week, with plans to establish his new studio there on July 9th. While details about the new studio are currently sparse, whispers suggest it may pick up where The Last of Us Online left off, a project that Naughty Dog scrapped in December 2023 due to resource constraints. Although it may take a few years to get his new studio fully operational, Agarwal is clearly focused on online games.
Meanwhile, Naughty Dog continues to focus on its future projects. Neil Druckmann, who recently stepped back from the HBO live-action adaptation of The Last of Us to concentrate on the studio, is now fully immersed in game development. He is focusing on a brand-new game titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which explores themes of faith and religion. Additionally, some speculate that Naughty Dog may be working on a return to the Uncharted universe. Despite recent departures, Anthony Newman, also part of The Last of Us Online team, continues to lead the production team at Naughty Dog. The studio also recently updated The Last of Us Part II Remastered, introducing a new way to approach the storyline chronologically. For fans of Uncharted and The Last of Us, these developments, from Naughty Dog’s upcoming titles to Vinit Agarwal’s new venture in multiplayer gaming, offer exciting prospects for the future. Source: Vinit Agarwal.
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Links to external sources for further reading
- Director of The Last of Us' Axed PS5 Multiplayer to Start New Studio in Japanhttps://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/07/director-of-the-last-of-us-axed-ps5-multiplayer-to-start-new-studio-in-japan
- Last Of Us Online Game Dev Launching New Studio In Japanhttps://tech.yahoo.com/gaming/articles/last-us-online-game-dev-163000231.html
- Former Uncharted and The Last of Us game designer starting new studiohttps://www.eurogamer.net/former-uncharted-and-the-last-of-us-game-designer-starting-new-studio
- The Director Behind The Cancelled The Last of Us Online Game Is Opening Up Their Studiohttps://gameranx.com/updates/id/544176/article/the-director-behind-the-cancelled-the-last-of-us-online-game-is-opening-up-their-studio/
- The Director On Naughty Dog’s Cancelled The Last Of Us Online Is Forming His Own Studiohttps://www.psu.com/news/the-director-on-naughty-dogs-cancelled-the-last-of-us-online-is-forming-his-own-studio/