Naughty Dog Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Retrospective Video

This year, Naughty Dog marks its 40th anniversary—a milestone reflecting its evolution from humble beginnings to one of Sony’s most influential first-party studios.

Founded by teenagers Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin, the studio’s foundational vision endures well beyond their departure. To commemorate the occasion, Naughty Dog has released an official retrospective video that revisits its landmark franchises while signaling its creative direction for the future.

Origins and Pivotal Milestones

Gavin and Rubin recount the studio’s earliest days—rooted in their school years—though the video deliberately omits deep exploration of largely forgotten early titles such as Rings of Power and Way of the Warrior. Instead, it highlights the launch of Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter as definitive turning points that established Naughty Dog’s identity and trajectory.

The Cinematic Action Era and Beyond

The retrospective traces the studio’s transition into its acclaimed cinematic action era, beginning in 2007 with Uncharted and extending through The Last of Us Part II. It also previews the upcoming title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, featuring brief in-game footage.

Studio Manager and Head of Operations Alison Mori affirmed the studio’s enduring mission: I know our studio will continue to create amazing story-driven, character-based games that touch upon the human experience.

Vision for the Future

Reflecting on the studio’s legacy, Jason Rubin emphasized continuity and ambition: I hope the future holds more of what Naughty Dog has always done—being at the forefront of making entertainment of the highest possible quality, telling the stories it wants to tell, with depth and meaning.

Earlier this year, Andy Gavin publicly critiqued design changes in the Crash Bandicoot remakes, stating they diminished the original experience. Meanwhile, Creative Director Neil Druckmann stepped back from involvement in The Last of Us TV series to prioritize development at Naughty Dog. He has since described Intergalactic as featuring “the deepest gameplay we’ve ever done”—though the title currently lacks an official release date.