With Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann recently teasing that there are several things in the works, fans have no idea what to expect next from the popular developer. While its track record implies that whatever the next project is will be solid, it could be anything. While rumors of a new fantasy IP have been shot down, there is still potential for Naughty Dog to take on a new genre in its next game.
While many may be expecting a return to the world of The Last of Us via an Abby-led DLC or a spin-off, Naughty Dog could surprise players by doing something fresh. If it does, that something could be the world of Savage Starlight. Established within The Last of Us series’ collectibles, in-universe comics and trading cards tell a story full of intriguing characters. Further, the sci-fi setting could allow Naughty Dog to introduce a tone and gameplay style that has not yet been seen in one of its games.
While Savage Starlight would be cool to see for several reasons, one of the most exciting is that it could allow Naughty Dog to do something different. While some players may want to see the studio return to an older franchise, something riskier could be even more exciting. Further, Naughty Dog has outgrown the IPs of Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter. While it would be great to see more Crash games, and a Jak and Daxter reboot would be terrific, a different studio should probably handle them.
As for the Uncharted series, the same logic can be applied. With the released of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Naughty Dog set out to wrap up Nathan Drake’s story, and did just that. While a reboot centered on his daughter Cassie could happen, and a spin-off with Sam Drake is also possible, Naughty Dog does not need to handle either of these. After all, with Uncharted 5 rumors suggesting that Sony San Diego may be involved with the next game, it would seem odd for Naughty Dog to go back to the franchise.
Finally, there is The Last of Us. While there is room for Abby’s story to continue, such a game would undoubtedly be controversial — meaning that Naughty Dog may want to avoid doing more. At the same time, many do love Abby, meaning that a full game or expansion could please fans. If this does come, though, it would likely happen after the release of another project. Much like Naughty Dog took a break from The Last of Us so that Uncharted could wrap up, another break would likely be taken before a hypothetical The Last of Us 3 is released. If another game does come, Naughty Dog could make Savage Starlight more than just a clever bit of world-building.
The Last of Us collectibles give fans a general idea of the Savage Starlight storyline, and it is interesting to say the least. Set in the year 2186, the comics focus on heroine Dr. Daniela Star as she ventures through space. Able to travel faster than light via her ship, she can explore the entire galaxy, and she eventually stumbles upon some evil aliens known as the Travelers. Having an issue with mankind, Star fights these mysterious antagonists in a series of 14 comics found throughout the first game.
While this is a solid basis for a game, as Naughty Dog has a fun protagonist, antagonist, and setting to work with, it is the award-winning The Last of Us 2 that makes this concept exciting. The game features 48 different trading cards that depict characters from the Savage Starlight universe, and all of them boast some incredible abilities. From the cosmic whale Big Blue to the water-bending superhero Flo, there are several characters in the cards that would make for an incredible video game. Essentially a take on DC or Marvel superheroes, the Savage Starlight collectibles build up the universe in a fun way, and the collectibles offer a lighthearted storyline that would serve as a nice change of pace from Naughty Dog’s recent work on The Last of Us.
All 48 characters have rich backstories, with two villain factions and two hero factions. On the side of good, there is the Future Alliance and the Society of Champions. As for the evil groups, The New Dogs and SPARK are packed with some intriguing characters, one of which is a fun spoof on Neil Druckmann called Dr. Uckmann. With over a dozen neutral characters as well, this universe seems ripe for exploration beyond just a series of cute collectibles. In fact, it could become a series of its own, with Naughty Dog introducing more of the cards’ characters through years’ worth of DLC and sequels.
With so many characters to play with, and fun powers that are ripe for upgrades, it is hard to think of any other genre for a Savage Starlight game than an RPG. Specifically, the game could follow in the footsteps of the Mass Effect series, with players able to control Daniela Star as she recruits other heroes and neutral characters for her team. Unlike Mass Effect, however, being able to switch between these companions would be important, as some of the powers are too fun to not be controlled by the player.
While there are some by-the-books vigilantes in the series, getting beyond the use of arrows and guns in a Naughty Dog title would be interesting. For example, Tormentra can turn mental anguish into energy blasts, which would be extremely fun to use inside a choice-based RPG. Likewise, the dinosaur-human hybrid Saura would make a great tank character, while speedsters like Cardio could be a blast to use as well. As for the villains, someone like Chessmaster would be fun to face due to his precognitive abilities, as Naughty Dog could create a moment like Psycho Mantis’ memory card reading in Metal Gear Solid.
Sergeant Frost’s ice powers and Candelabra’s fire are more perfect abilities for a video game, while a clash with the massive squid Seff-L’ho’phad would be terrifying. The list goes on, as Naughty Dog came up with so many great characters for these in-universe trading cards. While they do serve their purpose as collectibles that are fun to read through, they could be much more. Once The Last of Us 2’s Factions releases, it would be great to see Naughty Dog expand on the Savage Starlight universe by giving it its own game. An RPG with choices and upgrade trees for all the heroes and villains, a game like this would be nothing like what Naughty Dog has made in the past — and that is a big part of what would make it so appealing.
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