Naughty Dog Continues To Milk The Last of Us; New Documentary Announced

See full bio

Salman Fareed

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

See full bio

Naughty Dog is launching a follow-up to its original Grounded documentary. The new documentary is titled Grounded II, providing an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the process of creating the highly acclaimed 2020 game.

However, fans have begun to call the studio out for milking this series, with Naughty Dog showing no signs of slowing down.

Why it matters: The developer struggles to escape The Last of Us franchise. Naughty Dog is launching the sequel to their 85-minute documentary for the first game after recently announcing The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

It seems Naughty Dog wants to milk The Last of Us franchise for many more years to come. Fans were not happy when they announced the remaster for the second game, and the announcement of the documentary has become yet another point of contention.

It’s safe to say it’s all becoming too much. The documentary’s filming began in 2016, capturing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the game’s creation. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted the project, leading to its abandonment.

However, the existing footage has been revisited and put together into a documentary. This film offers an unfiltered view of the development process, not avoiding the tougher sides of game-making at Naughty Dog, like the debated crunch practice reported in 2020.

Joining the announcement is a trailer that spills the beans, offering a sneak peek into the development of The Last of Us Part 2. This teaser gives a taste of the hurdles encountered in the development process, assuring an authentic depiction of the ups and downs Naughty Dog went through.

The official documentary announcement didn’t specify when it would drop. However, Naughty Dog assured it’ll hit YouTube and be included in a post-launch update for The Last of Us Part 2.

Regardless, Naughty Dog needs to come up with a new IP, as fans are getting tired of playing the same franchise over and over again. Re-releasing games only tarnishes the reputation of the esteemed studio.

This move indicates a purposeful strategy to keep the remaster’s hype alive beyond its initial release on January 19. However, it is uncertain whether the remaster will generate any hype.

Last year, it was reported that The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered was developed by new hires. This creates uncertainty regarding the quality level of the remaster compared to the 2020 release.

Furthermore, The Last of Us Part 2 sold 8 million fewer copies than its predecessor. It’d be interesting to see if the new remaster can help the game edge closer to its predecessor’s sales record.

Salman Fareed

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com