With 2020 almost coming to a close (and not a moment too soon), Naughty Dog have announced some high-level changes within the studio. In an update on the developer’s blog, president Evan Wells announced that Neil Druckmann – who is the co-creator of The Last of Us, and served as creative director on both games (and on Uncharted 4) – has been promoted to the position of Co-President alongside Wells.
Druckmann had been a Vice President at Naughty Dog for nearly the last three years, and has been at the studio for almost seventeen years in total. How his promotion affects his game development work – what with him likely having more company-wide management to to do with his new position – remains to be seen.
Druckmann’s promotion also comes with a couple of other promotions within the studio’s structure. Director of Operations Alison Mori and Co-Director of Programming Christian Gyrling have been named as Naughty Dog Vice Presidents.
What the studio is working on next is up in the air right now. It’s likely that work on a Factions multiplayer mode for The Last of Us Part 2 is ongoing. Neil Druckmann has also previously commented that the developer’s next project could be The Last of Us Part 3, or perhaps a completely new IP.