At the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann and Sony Santa Monica's Cory Barlog discussed the pervasive theme of doubt in game development. Their hour-long conversation covered personal anxieties, creative processes, and the challenges of sequels.
Druckmann surprisingly revealed he doesn't plan sequels beforehand. His approach to The Last of Us Part II, and previous Uncharted titles, was to focus intensely on the current project, treating each as potentially his last. Any sequel ideas are organically incorporated, rather than pre-planned. He assesses unresolved elements and character arcs, deciding if a continuation is even viable. If not, he's comfortable concluding a narrative. He cited the Uncharted series as an example, emphasizing the iterative nature of character development across multiple games. Each new installment built upon the previous, exploring new avenues for the characters.
Barlog, in contrast, meticulously plans years in advance, connecting current projects to long-term visions. While acknowledging the inherent stress and potential for conflict with evolving teams and perspectives, he finds immense satisfaction in realizing these long-term goals. He described the exhilarating yet agonizing experience of reaching creative milestones, only to be immediately driven towards the next challenge.
The discussion also touched upon the emotional toll of game development. Druckmann shared an anecdote about Pedro Pascal, emphasizing the profound passion that fuels their work despite the immense pressure, negativity, and even threats. He acknowledged the need to eventually step back, creating opportunities for others to grow within Naughty Dog.
Barlog, in a poignant reflection on his career, admitted the relentless drive to create is never truly satiated. The completion of one project only reveals the looming presence of another, larger challenge. He described this as an internal compulsion, a force that pushes him forward despite the advice to slow down. The conversation concluded with Barlog jokingly announcing his retirement, highlighting the paradoxical nature of their shared experience. Druckmann, though, offered a more measured perspective, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities for future generations of developers.
