Naughty Dog, a renowned game studio under Sony, has created a series of classic games such as ‘Uncharted’ and ‘The Last of Us’. However, in recent years, the studio’s activity has declined. Although the studio has announced its latest IP and plans to make a comeback, without Sony’s acquisition, this studio might have ceased to exist long ago. Andrew Gavin, co-founder of Naughty Dog, recently revealed on social media that although the studio was developing well in the 1990s, it still chose to sell to Sony.
He explained that in the early 2000s, game development costs rose sharply, exceeding what the studio could afford. For example, the development cost of the ‘Crash Bandicoot’ series had already exceeded $1 million between 1994 and 1996, and the development cost of ‘Jak and Daxter’ even rose to $15 million. Gavin said that selling to Sony is not only to ensure Naughty Dog’s financial security but also to obtain Sony’s support and continue innovative game development. He believes that this is a common problem in the AAA game field, and many game companies have faced similar dilemmas in the past two decades. Therefore, although Naughty Dog has received countless praises, its achievements today are inseparable from Sony’s acquisition. It is estimated that Sony’s acquisition cost of Naughty Dog in 2001 was between $50 million and $200 million. Do you think Naughty Dog could still survive without Sony’s acquisition? Or could they maintain operations by developing smaller-scale game projects? Welcome to share your views in the comment area. This article is produced and released by gamehiving. Reproduction is prohibited without permission.
