The Last of Us Part 1 has been released and is firmly in the hands of players around the world. An overhaul of an already fantastic game (according to our reviews), many are joining again and searching the world in Joel’s way. However, a secret recently discovered in this new version of the Naughty Dog 3-person classic has made the studio’s next big IP a little curious.
In the new game, players can track and view pin boards inside dark buildings. With the help of a flashlight, you can see several fantastic artworks featuring dragons, various fantasy characters and other mystical creatures and scenes.
Right now, aside from the Last of Us multiplayer title they teased earlier this year, there’s no word on what the Naughty Dog team is going to do next. However, the studio has a history if they litter their games with hints of future games. Uncharted 3 famously featured an Easter egg pointing to The Last of Us prior to its official announcement, so the chances of something similar happening aren’t zero.
As for other clues that Naughty Dog is tinkering with the fantasy game, there’s little to reveal other than some fantastic concept art posted on the Artstation page of Naughty Dog senior concept artist Hyoung Taek Nam. There’s little hard evidence, but if you love yourself some rad digital eye candy, it’s worth a look.
For me, I’d love to see the Naughty Dog crew venture into an unfamiliar environment for their next big project. We’ve seen them deal with guns and modern drama for a while now — the days of The Last of Us and Uncharted have flourished on Crash and Jak’s bones for a long time. Sword and Monsters is one of the biggest narrative-focused studios in gaming right now, so I’d love to see what they can do with a new box of toys.
But what do you think? Do you think this is a real tease of the future? Or is it a no burger? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
For more coverage of The Last of Us, check out our coverage of the latest trailer for HBO’s The Last of Us TV show!
