- A former Naughty Dog employee has left for Japan to start a new studio.
- The dev is working on a new multiplayer title made on Unreal Engine 5.
- Following the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game, his second single-player title was also axed at Naughty Dog, prompting him to leave the studio.
Naughty Dog has stretched The Last of Us franchise with more than eight different iterations stemming from just two main entries. The developers had once planned to release a multiplayer standalone title a couple of years ago, which was ultimately cancelled.
The cancellation also resulted in a few layoffs, along with some employees who willingly left the studio. One senior employee who worked for Naughty Dog for over a decade, involved with the development of The Last of Us 2, Uncharted 4, and Uncharted Lost Legacy, has now left for Japan to start a new studio for his upcoming game.
Why it matters: Usually, being involved with publishers means that the creative direction of a project will be steered away. Without Naughty Dog, the dev will now have complete freedom over his title and development.
Couple of life updates:
Moving to Japan tomorrow.
Also forming a game studio — more on that soon!— Vinit Agarwal (@vinixkun) July 8, 2025
Vinit Agarwal recently made this announcement on X. Following his departure from Naughty Dog earlier in January, the dev is already working on a new title. Details about the project are unknown aside from the fact that it’s being made on the Unreal Engine 5.
Moreover, the dev has also hinted at the title being multiplayer as he expressed his disappointment to a fan over Naughty Dog cancelling the multiplayer Last of Us game. He said that he will continue making multiplayer games as it is something he’s passionate about.
Vinit Agarwal previously led the development of The Last of Us multiplayer game, which was shelved as it would take too many resources away from Naughty Dog’s single-player games.
Following this cancellation, Agarwal led another single-player game at Naughty Dog, which was also unfortunately cancelled, eventually making him decide to leave the studio for good.
Are you excited for Agarwal’s new studio and the upcoming release? Let us know in the comments section or share your thoughts at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
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