'The Last of Us II' Creator Reveals Unplanned Sequel

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 doubts, recognizing successful ideas, and the challenges of character development across multiple games.

Druckmann surprisingly revealed he doesn't plan sequels beforehand. He focuses intensely on the current project, approaching each game as if it were his last. Any sequel ideas are spontaneous, integrated organically, rather than pre-planned elements. He uses past games as a springboard, identifying unresolved issues and potential character arcs. If a character's journey feels complete, he's even joked about ending their story. He cited the Uncharted series as an example, emphasizing the iterative nature of character development across the franchise.

Barlog, in contrast, employs a more elaborate, long-term planning approach, connecting current projects to ideas conceived years prior. He described this as a "crazy conspiracy board" approach, acknowledging the inherent stress and potential for disruption due to shifting team dynamics and evolving perspectives over time. He highlighted the challenges of maintaining a cohesive vision across multiple games and years, with the risk of earlier ideas becoming obsolete or unappealing to later teams.

Druckmann admitted he lacks Barlog's level of long-term confidence, preferring to concentrate on the immediate tasks at hand. He emphasized his passion for game development, drawing a parallel to Pedro Pascal's statement that art is "the reason to wake up in the morning." Despite the inherent stress and negativity, including death threats, Druckmann finds fulfillment in collaborating with talented individuals and creating games.

The discussion shifted to the question of when enough is enough in their careers, particularly in light of Ted Price's retirement. Barlog candidly admitted that the drive is never-ending, describing an internal "demon of obsession" that pushes him towards new challenges, even after achieving significant success. He likened the feeling to reaching a mountaintop only to find another, taller one in the distance.

Druckmann expressed a more measured perspective, mentioning his gradual disengagement from day-to-day tasks and his intention to eventually step back, creating opportunities for others to take the reins. He cited Jason Rubin's advice about leaving space for others to grow as a guiding principle. Barlog playfully responded with a declaration of retirement, concluding the insightful conversation.