NAUGHTY DOG'S NEW IP REVEALED: EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS PROJECT JORDAN
Ever wondered what happens when one of gaming's most acclaimed studios gets bored of making us cry over mushroom zombies? Well, it looks like we're about to find out, as Naughty Dog has been dropping more hints about their new IP than a politician drops campaign promises. (Source)
FROM RUMORS TO REALITY
Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Back in 2020, Neil Druckmann started playing coy about Naughty Dog's next project like a cat with a laser pointer. Fast forward through a few years of "maybe Part III, maybe something new" comments, and suddenly we're seeing fantasy art sneaking into The Last of Us Part I like Easter eggs in a Marvel movie.
THE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATIONS
By December 2023, Naughty Dog finally admitted they're working on a "brand new singleplayer game" - shocking absolutely no one who's been following the breadcrumb trail. The project, codenamed "Jordan" (because apparently "Project Awesome" was too obvious), is shaping up to be something that'll "redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming," according to Druckmann. No pressure there, Neil.
CASTING CALLS AND CHARACTER DETAILS
The casting calls are where things get spicy. They're looking for hair models with specific looks - a salt & pepper silver fox and a brunette woman. Because apparently in the world of AAA gaming, even the hair needs an agent. The project's promising "intense violence" and "potential profanity" - it's Naughty Dog, folks, were we expecting Peppa Pig?
TROY BAKER'S INEVITABLE RETURN
And because it wouldn't be a Naughty Dog game without him, Troy Baker is confirmed to be involved. At this point, I think Troy Baker has a permanent parking spot at Naughty Dog's offices. He probably has his own coffee mug in their break room.
INDUSTRY INSIDERS SPILL THE BEANS
The most intriguing tidbit comes from industry insiders suggesting this game will offer "a lot of player freedom" - which is like saying Gordon Ramsay is planning to cook something with swearing. An insider at MinnMax even claimed we're "not ready for how amazing this is going to be," which in gaming hype terms could mean anything from "revolutionary masterpiece" to "it has a jump button."
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
Putting all these pieces together, we're looking at what appears to be a mature-rated, fantasy-tinged new IP with player freedom at its core. It's like Naughty Dog looked at their formula of making us emotionally attached to characters before traumatizing us, and thought, "Hey, what if we did that but with MORE options?"
Whether this turns out to be the next gaming revolution or just another excuse for Troy Baker to flex his vocal cords, one thing's certain: Naughty Dog isn't playing it safe. And given their track record, that's probably a good thing. Though I do have to wonder - how many tissues will we need for this one?