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Uncharted’s Lead Designer Launches New Studio – And It’s Not What You’d Expect
July 9, 2025You’ve played Uncharted. You’ve wept over The Last of Us. Chances are, you’ve walked in the gritty, shadow-lit footsteps of game design royalty—and you didn’t even know who was crafting it. Emmy-winning narrative designer and former The Last of Us series co-lead, Richard Cambier, has officially stepped out from the shadows of Naughty Dog to launch his own studio, Wildlight Entertainment, as reported. And no, he’s not following Sony’s template again—he’s flipping the script entirely.
What Is Wildlight Cooking?
If you’re expecting another sad dad simulator drenched in cinematic score… pump the brakes. According to early teasers, this new studio is targeting a “new kind of story-driven shooter experience” that fuses sharp third-person combat with emotional beats, but sheds the Hollywood formula that has become SIE’s signature. While PS5 exclusives have leaned heavily toward sprawling open-worlds or ultra-scripted dramas (lookin’ at you, Ghost of Tsushima), Wildlight aims for a stripped-down, action-adventure with a player-centric narrative—the kind where pacing tools like cutscenes or dialogue trees don’t choke your momentum.
Who’s On the Dream Team?
Richard’s not flying solo either. Early hiring info lists several ex-Naughty Dog developers jumping ship to join him, many of whom had input on The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. There’s even a rumour birds chirping about a few Santa Monica Studio alumni (hello God of War magic) joining the crew. This could mean a flexible fusion between systems design expertise and elite-level artistry. Think arena-style encounters like Returnal’s fluid combat systems…but layered with narrative threads gamers actually care about.
What Platforms Are We Talking?
While Cambier’s past might whisper “PlayStation exclusive” in your ear, the studio has hinted at a multi-platform launch. No platform lock-in announcement yet, but early job postings mention both Unreal Engine 5 experience and PC experience. So don’t count out a PC and Series X rollout, even if the Sony DNA is strong. There’s no set release timeline, no window. Cambier has said safe development practices and “innovative systems-first design” will take precedence over rushing to market.
The Rise of Indie AAA?
This new venture fits a growing trend. We’ve seen other AAA dev veterans break off to form agile, talent-heavy studios—like thatgamecompany and Haven. What’s interesting here is that Wildlight doesn’t seem just about budget or freedom—it’s about redefining what third-person action-adventure gaming even means today. In a gaming climate where single-player games are either bloated open worlds or cinematic slow-burns, Wildlight might just thread the needle: sleek, highly replayable combat fused with story, not the other way around.
It’s no secret Naughty Dog’s last few years have been, uh, unpredictable. Between the Last of Us PS5 remaster, multiplayer project cancellation, major leadership exits (Bruce Straley, Neil Druckmann taking more executive responsibilities), the studio has seen a shake-up. This departure further cements the feeling that the golden era of Naughty Dog may be winding down. But that’s not inherently bad—fresh blood means fresh games, and Cambier’s stepping into a space that’s begging for risk-takers unshackled by legacy expectations.
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