Naughty Dog is a studio that has constantly shipped some of the most critically acclaimed video game titles in the world. Its most recent endeavor is perhaps its biggest feat. The Last of Us 2 surpassed The Witcher 3 to become the most awarded video game of all time.

With the game's first anniversary right around the corner, fans have started to speculate what the studio's next big project would be. Some rumors suggest that Naughty Dog is working on a new sci-fi IP called Stray's Cross, whereas according to recent reports, Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us Remake for the PS5. While both projects could be concurrently in development at Naughty Dog, the alleged Stray's Cross should release before The Last of Us Remake.

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Naughty Dog's games are some of the most visually impressive titles that have graced Sony's consoles. In 2007, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune blew many away by its photorealistic visuals and highly detailed character models. The subsequent entries in the Uncharted series, as well as the recently released The Last of Us 2, only amped up the visuals.

Naughty Dog's games have always been a treat to look at, though it's the narrative and the well-written characters that usually steal the show. However, these aren't Naughty Dog's only strengths. The studio's ability to improvise with every new project is what it does best and what makes it one of the most successful game studios in the world.

Naughty Dog has worked on multiple franchises over the years, and it knows well when to transition from one to another. The first Crash Bandicoot was released when 3D platformers weren't common. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was released when the video game industry needed more cinematic action games with elaborate set pieces. The Last of Us arrived when narrative and performances in video games had started being taken seriously.

The current generation of AAA games hasn't leaned too heavily in the sci-fi genre, especially new IPs. The success of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition proves that fans want more single-player narrative-driven sci-fi experiences. Bethesda's highly mysterious Starfield seems ready to fill the gap though Bethesda games have often prioritized open-world exploration over deep character development. Stray's Cross could be different from Starfield, and could very well be the next-gen linear story-driven sci-fi single-player games fans want.

With The Last of Us 2, Naughty Dog has achieved unprecedented success, and while The Last of Us 3 could happen at some point in time, Naughty Dog's past does enough to indicate that the studio would likely take a break from the franchise. Interestingly, most of the PS5's upcoming first-party exclusives seem to be cross-gen titles, including God of War Ragnarok and Gran Turismo 7. Bringing these titles to the PS4 makes sense as these are sequels to long-running franchises whose development kicked off on the last-gen tech.

Sony Interactive Entertainment's current strategy seems to be releasing new experimental IPs and the sequels to less popular franchises exclusively on the PS5 while balancing these out by making the sequels to its most popular franchises cross-gen titles. Naughty Dog's Stray's Cross falls in the former category as it has the opportunity to not just be a fresh new IP in a genre in demand but also be a title that would utilize the full potential of the PS5, making it the definitive console seller.

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Several recent reports have seemingly confirmed that a remake of 2013's The Last of Us is in development. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Sony's Visual Arts Service Group was leading the development of The Last of Us Remake until Naughty Dog got involved. It isn't clear how much of Naughty Dog's staff is currently working on this project, though according to Schreier, The Last of Us Remake is the only project in full-production at Naughty Dog. Sadly, the studio may be in a tricky position if The Last of Us Remake is indeed its next big thing.

Remakes are essential in the video game space as they allow new players to experience the modernized version of cult classic titles while letting the older fans savor in the nostalgia. The Last of Us Remake could make a few worthwhile changes, though now doesn't seem like the best time for that. It wouldn't make sense for Naughty Dog to release a remake of a modern game in the next couple of years, especially in a time when fans would still be engrossed in The last of Us 2, the possible multiplayer expansion, and the upcoming TV adaptation. As mentioned before, Naughty Dog's biggest strength is its ability to improvise and adapt at the right time, and releasing The Last of Us Remake anytime soon seems absurd.

The Last of Us Remake seems like a project that would be well suited in something like The Last of Us bundle, a few years down the line that comes packed with The Last of Us 2 and its multiplayer counterpart. If Naughty Dog's release schedule is any indication, fans shouldn't expect any big AAA project until 2023. By then, the PS5 scarcity would hopefully cease, and more fans would be able to transition to the next-gen system. Stray's Cross could be that ultimate next-gen experience that the PS5 fans would want to have at launch.

As for The Last of Us Remake, it would make sense if Naughty Dog held back on it for a while and focus on releasing it around 2024-25. Until then, the original The Last of Us could start to feel like a dated experience, and there would be enough time gap between the two for players to actually crave for a remake.

Whether Naughty Dog's next big project is a new IP or its The Last of Us Remake remains to be seen and is something that fans won't get to know anytime soon. The studio's only known project is the multiplayer aspect of The Last of Us 2, which itself could be years away.

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