Neil Druckmann on Sequels: 'I Never Plan Ahead, Lacks Confidence'

At the recent DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, Neil Druckmann of Naughty Dog and Cory Barlog of Sony Santa Monica engaged in an insightful conversation about a deeply personal topic: doubt. The hour-long discussion touched on various aspects close to their hearts, including self-doubt as creators and the process of determining when an idea feels "right." They also fielded pre-submitted questions from the audience, one of which focused on character development across multiple games.

Druckmann's response to the question about sequels was particularly revealing. Despite his extensive experience with sequels, he admitted that he doesn't think about multiple games while working on a project. He explained, "That's a very easy question for me to answer, because I never think about multiple games, because the game in front of us is so all-consuming. I think you're jinxing yourself if you're starting to think about the sequel when you're working on the first game." Druckmann emphasized that he treats each game as if it might be the last, ensuring all his best ideas are incorporated into the current project.

Neil Druckmann. Image credit: Jon Kopaloff/Variety via Getty Images

Druckmann further elaborated that his approach to storytelling is to focus intensely on the present project, with the exception of the The Last of Us TV show, which he knows will span multiple seasons. When it comes to sequels, he reviews what has been done and considers unresolved elements and potential character arcs. If he feels there's nowhere left for the characters to go, he humorously suggested, "I think we'll just kill them off."

In contrast, Barlog described a different approach, likening his planning to a "Charlie Day crazy conspiracy board," where he tries to connect and plan various pieces over time. He finds it magical when he can link current work to plans made years ago, but acknowledged the immense stress and complexity this method entails, especially given the involvement of hundreds of people over several years.

Cory Barlog. Image credit: Hannah Taylor/BAFTA via Getty Images

The conversation also touched on their personal experiences with doubt and their creative processes. Druckmann shared his passion for games, recounting a moment with Pedro Pascal on the set of the The Last of Us TV show, where Pascal's love for art resonated deeply with him. Despite the challenges and negatives, such as stress and even death threats, Druckmann reaffirmed his love for game development, stating, "It's the reason to wake up in the morning. It's why we do what we do."

Barlog, reflecting on his career and the recent retirement of colleague Ted Price, addressed the question of when the drive to create is ever satisfied. He admitted that it's never enough, describing the relentless pursuit of new goals as a "demon of obsession" that doesn't allow one to savor achievements. Barlog's candid reflection highlighted the continuous drive to achieve more, even at personal cost.

Druckmann concluded with a softer note, mentioning advice from Naughty Dog's Jason Rubin about creating opportunities for others by stepping back. He sees himself gradually reducing his day-to-day involvement, paving the way for new talent to take on leadership roles and their own creative challenges.

Barlog humorously ended the talk by saying, "Very convincing. I’m going to retire," leaving the audience with a blend of introspection and laughter on the complexities of creativity and the personal journeys of these renowned game developers.