It's funny what you can find if you sleuth around the internet enough. Case in point, sprinklings about Naughty Dog's next (and still-to-be-revealed) IP.

The first-party Sony studio has remained relatively silent for years, but now, on the heels of the success of their series, The Last of Us, which recently made its mark at the 2024 Emmy Awards, details about its next non-TLOU project have emerged, and it's somewhat good news.

Given the studio's likely focus on this new IP, it would help explain the longer wait for a third installment in The Last of Us series, especially after the recent success of the HBO TV adaptation.

A leak on the subreddit r/GamingLeaksAndRumors, which included a snapshot of illustrator Colin Lorimer's LinkedIn profile, sparked speculation about this upcoming project. This lists his involvement in the live-action adaptation of The Last of Us, the now-canceled multiplayer spin-off, and an "Untitled Project" over at Naughty Dog.

Naughty Dog has a history of successful franchises, including Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. With the award-winning franchise, Uncharted, unofficially concluded (with a reboot reportedly coming) and The Last of Us' next steps in gaming uncertain, Naughty Dog has the opportunity to be something that it hasn't been in a long time - a studio with an opportunity to explore new creative avenues. The recent confirmation of multiple new games in development by the studio further fuels excitement and curiosity about what this new IP might entail.