Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog is a video game developer based in Santa Monica, California, owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Founded in 1984 by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin as JAM Software, the studio built its reputation through a string of increasingly ambitious titles. Early games like Rings of Power and Way of the Warrior caught the attention of Universal Interactive Studios, which signed the duo to a three-title deal and funded the company's expansion.

Under the guidance of designer Mark Cerny, Naughty Dog pivoted to character-based platformers, creating Crash Bandicoot for the original PlayStation in 1996. The game became a smash hit, leading to three sequels and the kart racer Crash Team Racing. After Sony acquired the studio in 2001, the team shifted to the PlayStation 2 with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, a sprawling action-adventure that launched another successful franchise.

Gavin and Rubin left in 2004 to start an internet company, but Naughty Dog continued to evolve. The studio's first PlayStation 3 title, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007), introduced treasure hunter Nathan Drake and set a new standard for cinematic storytelling in games. Sequels followed, but the studio's biggest breakthrough came in 2013 with The Last of Us, a post-apocalyptic drama developed by a secondary team. Its emotional depth and critical acclaim spawned a franchise, with a sequel releasing in 2020. Naughty Dog is now working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for the PlayStation 5. [edit]