Naughty Dog Boss Talks 25 Years Of PlayStation, And What He Thinks The PS5 Will Offer

PlayStation recently turned 25 years old, and the industry is looking back on Sony’s consoles and the legacy they have created. Some developers that have worked with PlayStation for years are also looking towards the future. In an interview with The Verge, Naughty Dog president Evan Wells has talked about his history in the industry, but has also discussed how the PlayStation 5 will be different from what has come before.

Naughty Dog’s history with PlayStation stretches back to the first console, and it is responsible for series like Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. Wells, who joined the studio after being impressed by the original Crash Bandicoot, reflects on how the PlayStation 2 was an “enormous leap” from the original, and how games now “require massive teams and lengthy development cycles.” Talking about the distinction between the first PlayStation and the PlayStation 4, Wells says “they’re barely recognizable as the same product.”

Wells goes on to talk about the PlayStation 5, and what he sees as the major change it will introduce for players. “I think it will allow us to deliver the content in a way that has no friction for the players,” he told The Verge. “They’ll never have to wait to dive back into their games.” This seems to be in reference to the system’s solid state drive, which will allow for much faster loading.

Naughty Dog’s next game, The Last of Us Part II, will release for PlayStation 4 on May 29, 2020. It will feature much wider environments than the first game, as well as an expanded upgrade system.