Naughty Dog is one of the most talented AAA game development studios, and it's no surprise that fans are eager to find out what the studio's next big project is. Fresh off with the release of its universally acclaimed sequel, The Last of Us 2, Naughty Dog is currently hard at work on the multiplayer expansion of the game, along with multiple other projects.

There have been plenty of rumors and leaks over the years which suggest that one of these projects is a brand new sci-fi IP. This new first-person game is allegedly called Stray's Cross, set in a steampunk universe. While this sounds promising and seems like something Naughty Dog would want to pursue, fans should keep their expectations in check as there is plenty of evidence that suggests that this alleged project, if it even exists, could still be years away from releasing.

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Earlier this year, Naughty Dog's co-president Evan Wells confirmed in the AIAS Game Maker's Podcast that the studio has multiple projects in development. One of these projects is the multiplayer mode for The Last of Us 2, which apparently has grown significantly in scope and size over the years. This multiplayer component of the game was supposed to be part of The Last of Us 2 package at launch though Naughty Dog later confirmed that wouldn't be the case.

It seems though this multiplayer project is more ambitious than the Factions mode from The Last of Us 1. Naughty Dog's recent job listing for an Economy Designer suggests that this standalone multiplayer mode will incorporate live-service elements, making it more than just a mere evolution of the factions mode.

It's important to note this multiplayer-standalone adventure is being led by Naughty Dog's Vinit Agarwal rather than Neil Druckmann. According to Agarwal's Linkedin profile, he has been the co-director on a Naughty Dog project since September 2020. While it doesn't necessarily state he's involved with the multiplayer project, his past work as the lead multiplayer game designer on Uncharted games and The Last of Us 2 indicate the same. Moreover, Agarwal recently shared a Naughty Dog's job listing post for its multiplayer project over his Twitter, implying that not only is he involved and is leading the project, but also that this project could still be years away from releasing.

It isn't the first time Naughty Dog has split into two teams to work on different projects. After shipping Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in 2009, Naughty Dog divided into two groups, one of which worked on Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception led by Amy Henning, while the other worked on The Last of Us led by Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann. However, both these games weren't in full production at the same time. According to Wells, "Uncharted 3 at the time was stealing resources away from The Last of Us."

It's possible that this upcoming multiplayer expansion started as a small project that was supposed to complement the single-player component of The Last of Us 2. But instead, it became a more convoluted project that needs more attention and investment. As such, it could be stealing resources from Naughty Dog's other big projects, including the rumored new IP Stray's Cross.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported earlier last month that Naughty Dog is helping out with The Last of Us Remake, which is currently in development at Sony's mysterious San Diego studio. Schreier's report indicates that while the development started at Sony's San Diego studio, a huge chunk of Naughty Dog employees are now also involved in it. As it stands, The Last of Us Remake has been moved into the Naughty Dog budget and is seemingly the next big thing from the studio. It makes sense given the unprecedented popularity The Last of Us has garnished worldwide in the last few years.

If Naughty's Dog track record is any indication, The Last of Us Remake makes even more sense. Since the PS4 era, Naughty Dog has worked on remastering its previous titles to the next-gen systems. Most studios do this to get a layout of the next-gen tech, and Naughty Dog is no different. The studio released The Last of Us Remastered as its first PS4 game, as some may recall.

The Last of Us Remake is reportedly using a new game engine for the PS5. This is a perfect way for the studio to get familiar with all the new tech before tackling a massive project. However, if the majority of the Naughty Dog's staff is busy with The Last of Us Remake and The Last of Us 2 multiplayer mode, it could be a while before the studio fully devotes itself to this mysterious new IP.

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It's no surprise that new IPs take much longer to make than sequels of existing franchises. Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty recently discussed the impact of the ongoing pandemic on Xbox's first-party studios. He discussed how this work from the home scenario affects the development of new IPs more than sequels. The same could be the case with Naughty Dog. As mentioned before, Naughty Dog is one of the most talented AAA game studios in the world, and fans have immensely high expectations from their games. The studio continues to stir the industry with every subsequent release, and there's no limit on what they could achieve with a completely new IP that looks and plays vastly different from its previous projects.

As such, it's no surprise that Naughty Dog would want to take its time with this new sci-fi IP if it exists at all. Moreover, the studio is also taking steps to combat the crunch culture, which reached new heights when the company geared up to release The Last of Us 2 amid a pandemic. Wells confirmed that the Naughty Dog is undergoing structural changes, adding more hierarchy to improve the management. It could result in further delaying of this new IP, alongside Naughty Dog's other projects, as the studio prioritizes the well-being of its employees.

As the pandemic continues, developers continue to work from their homes. Plenty of AAA games have already received significant delays, and it wouldn't be surprising if fans don't get to see or hear about any of Naughty Dog's next project for a long time, including this new sci-fi IP.

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