Former Naughty Dog Developer Says Studio Promotes PlayStation

Sony's approach to selling PlayStation hardware may help Naughty Dog finance ambitious, story-driven games without prioritizing profits in the same way as other developers. Matt Radford, a former senior visual effects artist who worked on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, explained this business model in an interview with Kiwi Talkz, while expressing enthusiasm for the studio's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Radford's assessment, reported by PSU and ixbt.games on October 7, 2026, and Yahoo Tech on October 9, centers on Naughty Dog's role as a flagship developer whose releases help make Sony's gaming hardware more attractive to consumers. He argued that this relationship gives the studio room to pursue large-scale creative projects that might face greater financial pressure elsewhere.

Radford said he believes the studio's position within Sony helps explain its ability to develop technically demanding, single-player experiences over extended periods. Such games rely on substantial investments in writing, performances, visual effects and other production disciplines rather than ongoing monetization models.

"My understanding is really that Naughty Dog is just to sell Sony hardware," Radford said. "The reason Naughty Dog is so wonderful is they aren't as profit-driven as other companies because they exist to be a flagship to sell the hardware. Sony makes their money on the hardware, and I think it's working."

The developer's comments come as AAA game production becomes increasingly expensive and studios face uncertainty over profitability. According to ixbt.games, Radford's explanation suggests that PlayStation exclusives can serve a broader commercial purpose by encouraging hardware purchases, even when evaluating an individual game solely on direct revenue does not capture its full value to Sony.

Radford also pointed to the risk of losing the resources and specialized talent required to create exceptionally ambitious games. In comments reported by PSU, he compared major video game productions with historic architectural landmarks, arguing that both can reflect the extraordinary skills and creative opportunities available during a particular period.

"I just hope it gets to keep happening, because the real beauty in this is that this even exists. One day maybe there won't be the ability to spend $600 million or some astronomical figure to make a really cool action game with a good story. Friends of mine talk, and we're often like – insert your Naughty Dog game, Uncharted 4, Last of Us 2, whatever.

Is that the best video game that'll ever be made?" Radford said.

He further questioned whether future audiences would look back at modern games as products of a distinctive creative era. Radford highlighted the human contributions involved in acting, writing, modeling, sculpting and painting, drawing a parallel with the craftsmanship behind historic buildings.

"The people have moved on, the process, the expertise. We have better ways of making a building now, and yet none of the buildings look like some of those old architectural marvels."

Radford's professional experience extends beyond Naughty Dog. After working on Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us, he held positions at Sony Santa Monica, Riot Games and Epic Games, giving him experience across several major game development organizations.

Despite his concerns about the industry's financial pressures, Radford remains interested in Naughty Dog's next project. Speaking to Kiwi Talkz, he said he can now approach the studio's games as a player rather than evaluating them through the perspective of someone involved in production.

"I'm definitely so far removed from Naughty Dog that I definitely will play Intergalactic and just get to have a good time," Radford said.

He expects the upcoming title to offer an engaging experience, while acknowledging that he has both positive and negative views about the studio's work. His comments also reflect concern about whether developers will continue to receive the financial backing needed to produce games on a similarly ambitious scale.

"There's no way there's not something captivating going on there," Radford said. "Of course I have my opinions, I have my thoughts – good and bad – but to be honest, I'm just so happy that the institution that is Naughty Dog is still going, and that someone is taking big risks on art like that on a really high level."

Naughty Dog's next major release, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, will test the studio's ability to continue pursuing ambitious projects under Sony's hardware-focused business strategy. Radford's comments do not establish the game's budget, profitability or release date.