Mr. Neil Druckmann, welcome. Good to lastly meet you.
MR. DRUCKMANN: Gene, wanting good. We have been speaking about doing this dialog for some time. I am glad we lastly get to do it.
MR. PARK: Yeah, man. This was your concept. Remember that, so–
MR. PARK: How are you doing?
MR. DRUCKMANN: Properly, you known as me on an attention-grabbing day, at an attention-grabbing time, in that right now I’ve–after this interview, I’m driving throughout city to do a premiere with Naughty Canine. The entire Naughty Canine will get see the primary episode for the primary time, after which afterwards, I’ve the HBO premiere, form of like a Hollywood purple carpet occasion that I don’t know what to anticipate from that, so–and then at midnight, we’ve got evaluations drop for the present. So sort of–you caught me at my most anxious, nervous, so we’ll see how this goes.
MR. PARK: Sounds good. Properly, we’ve got lots to cowl. So let’s simply leap proper in and get you out of right here.
Let’s discuss “Final of Us” in a broader sense. For these unfamiliar, it’s a narrative a couple of man named Joel from Texas who suffers unimaginable deep loss firstly of a world pandemic, and we comply with his story 20 years later. He’s grieving. He’s a shriveled-up man, and he’s a black market smuggler. And his newest project is smuggling a 14-year-old woman throughout america within the hopes of hopefully ending the pandemic.
Up to now, you described the video games as being about unconditional love and about how it’s these feelings can drive individuals to do wild issues, and plenty of others think about your final recreation, “The Final of Us Half II,” as merely a recreation about how revenge is unhealthy and it would not do something. And to be honest, you might have additionally described “The Final of Us Half II” as a recreation about being revenge.
You recognize, it has been two years since “The Final of Us Half II” got here out and 10 years since “The Final of Us Half I” got here out. In hindsight, how would you describe the themes of the story to this point?
MR. DRUCKMANN: Yeah. Once you say it like that, I simply really feel outdated.
MR. DRUCKMANN: No, it’s simply been form of a wild experience, and, you understand, you say sure issues while you market a recreation versus what it’d really be about. However from–I bear in mind the second we first began speaking about “The Final of Us” at Naughty Canine, my earliest dialog with Bruce Straley, my directing companion. We have been speaking about creating an expertise of the unconditional love that oldsters really feel for his or her youngster, and that love is so primal, organic, that it might probably make you do actually fantastic issues. It could possibly make you are feeling probably the most intense happiness you’ve ever felt in your life. Like, generally individuals ask me, “Oh, what’s it prefer to have a child? Do you are feeling something new?” And I’m like, “No. It’s the identical emotions you understand, however it’s a way more intense model of these.” So it’s a form of pleasure you’ve by no means identified earlier than, however it’s a form of concern you’ve by no means identified earlier than both and a form of ache. And a mother or father’s biggest concern is dropping their youngster.
After which, you understand, as I grow old, as my household will get older and my dad and mom grow old, there’s this different concern of dropping these people who have raised you, which have linked with you, and a lot of “The Final of Us Half II” was about that, form of the other aspect of that, that love connection. And, you understand, while you have a look at the world we reside in and a few of the biggest issues and a few of the most horrible issues have typically come from that feeling of affection, and to me, “The Final of Us” has all the time been an exploration of that.
And our method with the present was the identical factor. That’s on the core of it. All the pieces is rising out of that. All the pieces is a dialog about that. So I believe–I believe we’ve been fairly profitable. From my standpoint, I actually benefit from the form of back-and-forth conversations that occur round our video games. Even when generally they might get fairly poisonous, I nonetheless get lots out of it, of simply seeing what individuals take away from it, how they interpreted it, and I’m actually pleased with what we did at Naughty Canine and now what we’ve accomplished with HBO that’s just about been impressed by the work Naughty Canine has accomplished.
MR. PARK: Yeah. We’ll positively discuss all that stuff later, however you speak concerning the world we reside in. “The Final of Us” may be very clearly a couple of post-pandemic world, and this was again in 2013. And, you understand, some critics of this recreation and the story say that it was unusually darkish and really cynical, is a really dim view of the human spirit and its capability to look after others.
However I do know for myself within the final two years within the now and nonetheless very actual pandemic world, I believe actuality has solely bolstered a few of these features of the sport, the place there are such a lot of competing pursuits, and in a survival in setting, how would they conflict?
However I need to hear from you. How has the final two years modified your perspective, if in any respect, of that authentic imaginative and prescient? And the way did this, if any–did any of this inform the way you approached a few of the new modifications within the present? As a result of there are a couple of modifications that you simply’ve talked about within the present, and, you understand, individuals will see that. I need to know if any of that, any of the previous two years, that have has form of knowledgeable, you know–kind of made you rethink the sport, and in addition, has any of that appeared within the present as effectively?
MR. DRUCKMANN: Yeah. I don’t know if it’s a rethink. Clearly, the pandemic has been a wild expertise. I’ve misplaced a relative to covid-19. So it’s been–
MR. PARK: I am sorry to listen to that.
MR. DRUCKMANN: –quite intense.
However I believe it’s extra simply reaffirmed what I’ve all the time felt, that we’re able to fantastic issues and actually horrible issues, and while you see individuals preventing about masks or vaccines, it’s disheartening. After which while you see individuals come collectively and actually assist each other, that’s the factor we’re all striving for—-or a minimum of a few of us.
So, yeah, I do not know if it is actually modified a lot. Logistically for the present, we simply knew individuals can be form of wiser to how this stuff function. So we wished to ensure we have accomplished our analysis and we’re as scientifically grounded as doable, simply, once more, as a result of individuals are extra savvy to how pandemics work and the way the federal government and society can react at giant.
However, you understand, the sport and the present are actually not a couple of pandemic. Like, there’s one episode that is a couple of pandemic. All the pieces else is what occurs afterwards, and likewise, the primary quarter-hour of the sport are a couple of pandemic. All the pieces else about what occurs afterwards, it is about relationships and other people. That to me is the meat of what “The Final of Us” is. The opposite stuff is dressing to get to that meat, to get to these relationships. That’s the core of what we have been constructing.
MR. PARK: What’s your view on humanity? What’s your–do you might have an optimistic view or a pessimistic view or someplace in between?
MR. DRUCKMANN: It’s someplace in between. You recognize, perhaps I’ve gone, one may say, extra cynical however perhaps a bit extra grounded over time. Once I was beginning out, I was, I believe, much more naive and assume, oh, man, we’re going to make these video games that may change the world and have an effect on a bunch of individuals. And, just lately, I’ve had some conversations and my–I don’t know if that is fairly your query, however I’ve been fascinated about artwork and, you understand, the stuff we’re making. And I’m extra now, I believe, in affecting a couple of individuals deeply and provoking individuals, and it made me assume again to rising up and what are the issues which have impressed me and wished to make me get into video video games.
It’s been actually cool just lately, and it’s been taking place increasingly. We’re rising fairly a bit at Naughty Canine, and as a part of the interview course of, you understand, we simply speak to individuals on the place they arrive from and why they wished to–why they need to be part of our workforce, and so many individuals discuss whether or not it’s “Uncharted” or “Jak & Daxter” or “The Final of Us” has made them need to get into video games. In order that’s the stuff I form of deal with now. It’s like, okay, how will we mentor the following era of creators? How will we create openings for them to actually specific themselves?
And I get, I believe, extra so now a sense of satisfaction of seeing different individuals form of rise via the ranks and go away their mark on the trade, and that is the form of cycle that I take into consideration lots. I do not have a tendency to consider humanity as a complete that a lot. I attempt to not watch the information as a lot as I used to anymore. It simply form of can convey you down. So I attempt to keep knowledgeable however then deal with household, deal with my work, and simply individuals near me.
MR. DRUCKMANN: That was a weird–that was a bizarre rambling reply. I don’t know if I fairly answered your query there.
MR. PARK: That is okay. We have now a query from the viewers. Thanks to Matt St. John from Louisiana who asks, “How has your time within the gaming trade impacted the alternatives you make as a author in relation to large concepts and tales? What do you select to deal with first when making a story?”
MR. DRUCKMANN: It is humorous. I’ve these conversations lots with Craig as of late about our course of, which tends to be fairly comparable. I like some clear thematic concepts, some easy idea that all the things might be strung on, held on, no matter time period you need to use. With out understanding the place we’re heading, it is onerous to make artistic decisions, particularly while you have a look at one thing that is an enormous collaboration like a online game or a TV present.
You recognize, I hear–there’s all these conversations about auteurs. I’m not an auteur. Let’s put that–I’ll make that very clear. That is–what we do is extraordinarily collaborative.
MR. DRUCKMANN: So I believe that’s why these easy form of ideas are helpful, as a result of typically while you work with so many individuals, they’ll come to you with pitches, and often–again, once they’re very proficient, all these pitches are extraordinarily good and very thrilling or thrilling. So, while you have a look at 5 issues and you’ll solely select one, how do you select? And, to me, the one manner to try this is to know what your factor is about, what it’s that you simply’re making, creating, after which to say not which one in all these is the best, however which one will get me nearer to that concept? After which in having these conversations, that imaginative and prescient, it’s very robust, however it doesn’t come from a single individual.
Now if I’ve had a dialog with individuals, like, I’ve to say perhaps 4 noes and one sure. Even these noes are necessary as a result of now it’s like these individuals can stroll away and be like, “Oh, I’ve a greater understanding of the factor we’re constructing.” The following pitch is extra prone to get in there. And I believe that’s a muscle that you simply simply get skilled over time of like arising with these ideas and actually empowering individuals to faucet into that imaginative and prescient and specific themselves into it, and I believe that’s–these days, that’s a few of, like, the best joys I get is being stunned by the individuals I work with and what they convey to the desk. And I believe it helps make one thing higher than anyone–any one in all us may have accomplished on our personal.
MR. PARK: Yeah. I am glad you stated that making video video games is a really collaborative effort. So many alternative concepts and story concepts come from completely different animators.
MR. DRUCKMANN: I’ll say unless–unless you’re Lucas Pope and also you do all the things, that’s the one auteur I do know.
MR. DRUCKMANN: However, in any other case, it is a collaboration, and everyone’s contributing ultimately.
MR. PARK: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You positively can’t accuse your video games of not having a perspective. My subsequent query, you’re co-president of an organization, and your final recreation, “The Final of Us Half II,” was created with the data that it is going to be fairly divisive, and it could anger a few of your viewers, which it did. As a studio govt and creator, how do you stability managing and working a profit-driven media enterprise with what seems to be your personal very robust convictions to stay to inventive decisions that problem individuals’s perceptions? Was there a concern of that doing what you probably did would dilute your viewers, or was it clarifying?
MR. DRUCKMANN: Yeah. That is a very good query, and it is one thing that I wrestle with very often.
I’ll say it’s, like, look, as–I neglect the precise quote from William Goldman, however it’s like the concept is like, you understand, nobody is aware of what’s going to achieve success or what’s going to promote or not promote or what critics shall be drawn to or will it discover an viewers. You simply don’t know. If we knew, if there was a components to it, everybody can be doing that. Nothing would ever bomb or fail or any of that. So it’s like there’s no, like, a call, you can say, okay, that’s one of the best enterprise choice, and that is the–like–and you can simply form of neglect the inventive integrity of all of it.
What I’ve discovered over the years–and that is the place I’ve to provide credit score not solely to the management at Naughty Canine that got here earlier than me however even PlayStation–is that folks do their greatest work once they’re obsessed with what it’s that they’re making. If that wasn’t the case, I’d be engaged on “Crash Bandicoot 17” proper now, however as a substitute, Naughty Canine–and this was when it was run by Jason Rubin and Andy Gavin–very well understood that they have been getting uninterested in engaged on “Crash.” And although “Crash” was extraordinarily profitable for them, they moved on and did “Jak & Daxter,” after which “Jak & Daxter” turned successful. And although it was extraordinarily profitable for Naughty Canine, we moved on and did “Uncharted,” which was an enormous threat for us. We have been identified for like a–more form of like childlike, whimsical form of storytelling and recreation play, and we went to this type of cinematic, narrative-driven, you understand, “Pulp Motion” journey romp. We moved away from hand-keyed animation to movement seize, and there have been some animators that stop over that. However the studio simply felt like that was the route we would have liked to take. That’s how we would have liked to evolve, and we did work we have been extraordinarily obsessed with. After which, you understand, I believe that imaginative and prescient was realized not a lot with the primary recreation, which when it got here out didn’t set the world on hearth however with “Uncharted 2.”
After which that was extraordinarily profitable for us, and we determined to take a threat, like let’s do our first M-rated recreation. And that threat led to “The Final of Us,” that after I was engaged on that recreation and I’ve–you know, I’ve talked about this in interviews before–I didn’t assume it was going to be that profitable. I believed a few of it was too refined and nuanced, and it’s just–I simply didn’t assume it will work as effectively. However it did. Once more, I believe an enormous a part of it’s as a result of we have been engaged on one thing that your complete studio was actually obsessed with.
So then when you concentrate on, okay, the sequel for “The Final of Us,” you understand, I believe the protected factor to do would have been to do one other Joel and Ellie Journey, one thing that becomes–like, you attempt to flip the primary recreation right into a components and attempt to recapture that feeling once more. However I believe that may have failed our course of.
What I attempted to duplicate with the sequel was like the–what’s the method that made it profitable? It’s like, you understand, that’s taking sure dangers. That’s placing issues on the market that’s not going to resonate with everybody however would possibly result in attention-grabbing conversations, and, you understand, we made one thing that the workforce actually believed in and I’m extraordinarily pleased with. And it was extraordinarily profitable, you understand. Regardless of what different people who didn’t like it will need it to be, it was profitable. And to me, it reached a stage of success that what I all the time attempt for which isn’t most income. It’s sufficient to have the ability to do it once more.
As an artist, you understand, you just–you need to attain a certain quantity of viewers. You need it to stay with them so that they’re fascinated about it previous the purpose of ending it–it’s not only a frivolous thing–and then you definitely’re profitable sufficient as a enterprise to have the ability to develop, rent extra individuals, and do it once more. And that’s the place we’re in proper now.
MR. PARK: Yeah. Dialog we’re having proper now began since you wished to speak with me about narrative storytelling and video video games. So let’s discuss that. The critic Tim Rogers has likened “The Final of Us” as form of like the newest and supreme evolution of the groundbreaking 1991 recreation by Éric Chahi, “One other World.” I might even take it again additional, and the evolution begins again to Jordan Mechner’s “Prince of Persia” and the “Karateka” video games.
And it is well-known that “The Final of Us” was initially pitched as a extra grounded, real looking model of 2001’s Fumito Ueda’s groundbreaking recreation, “Eco,” for PlayStation II.
So, you understand, up to now a number of years since your internship at Naughty Canine via now directing “The Final of Us II”–and now you’ve dabbled in so many different mediums. You’ve made comedian books, and now you’ve co-directed and co-run an HBO television sequence. How has your video–how has your view of efficient online game storytelling advanced over time? I imply, how would you outline it now?
MR. DRUCKMANN: It is humorous. My thoughts goes even additional again than “Prince of Persia.” Like, I believe Atari “Journey,” you understand, similar to a sq. shifting round and also you’re attempting to venture narrative onto it.
MR. DRUCKMANN: It is humorous. Properly, the rationale we began to have this dialog is, you understand, you place some statements on the market about “Elden Ring” that similar to Twitter does, you understand, you’ve got gone into some heated conversations about it.
MR. DRUCKMANN: I do assume stuff–I’m extra just lately intrigued by stuff like “Elden Ring” and “Inside” that doesn’t rely as a lot on conventional narrative to inform its story and is–I believe there’s some–some of one of the best storytelling in “The Final of Us,” loads of it’s within the cinematics. However loads of it’s in recreation play and shifting round an area and understanding a historical past of an area by simply taking a look at it and analyzing it. And, to me, that’s some–that’s–right now’s a few of the greatest pleasure I get out of video games that belief their viewers to determine issues out, that don’t maintain their hand. That’s the stuff I’m actually intrigued by going ahead.
And, once more, it doesn’t imply we’ll by no means have dialogue or minimize scenes. I believe these are like–those are instruments in your toolbox.
MR. DRUCKMANN: And it is about how do you employ all these completely different features, a few of it from different medium, you understand, a few of it discovered notes and environmental storytelling. And I believe there is a method to push that stuff ahead a minimum of for the form of video games that we make at Naughty Canine. I am actually intrigued, once more, by no means resting on our laurels and attempting one thing somewhat bit new, somewhat bit completely different that not everybody goes to love, however that is okay. And, once more, the stuff that we’re engaged on now, I may inform you that the groups are very excited by the completely different initiatives we’ve got at Naughty Canine.
MR. PARK: Yeah. One of many extra attention-grabbing things–and I believe the underrated issues about “The Final of Us” sequence and “Uncharted” as effectively and what Naughty Canine has delivered to the table–is all this unstated storytelling you do with individuals’s faces and the form of expressions that they offer. You recognize, even within the remake for “The Final of Us Half I,” I observed that Joel was smiling greater than he did within the 2013 recreation. And it’s like that–for me, that tells like a fair deeper story than–and a special characterization of him than the unique 2013 recreation did. So, yeah, it’s simply been fascinating to see it occur.
MR. DRUCKMANN: Yeah. I believe that’s some–that’s a few of the greatest storytelling. Typically in passive media in TV and movie is scenes that don’t have any dialogue, and it’s nearly studying an individual’s expression.
You recognize, one of many modifications that we made for the TV present is we made Sam deaf.
MR. DRUCKMANN: And it began from a spot of similar to, you understand, a dialog I had with Craig. We’re like what if we may use much less dialogue, however then it led to–that form of constraint led to actually attention-grabbing storytelling selections that I might say in some methods make that sequence extra impactful than it’s within the recreation, a minimum of for me. And I’m very curious to see how different individuals react to it.
After which, likewise, I believe with video games, our philosophy at Naughty Canine often is like if it’s an motion sequence, it shouldn’t be a minimize scene. It ought to be on the stick. If it’s one thing that, once more, you need to deal with somebody’s face, effectively, that’s actually onerous to do in recreation play, not unimaginable, however typically you must take away their form of game-play loops and mechanics which can be connecting them to the character. And that’s once we ought to go to a minimize scene.
However increasingly, as we discuss it, it’s like that’s the final resort of eradicating interactivity and, like, okay, how can we keep on the stick extra and nonetheless inform these actually compelling character-driven tales.
MR. PARK: Was it liberating so that you can work on these similar characters however like having the ability to like work on them on the present? As a result of within the recreation, you must actually keep on with Joel in a minimum of each perspective. They’re the participant, proper? However now with the present, you possibly can really transfer the digital camera round and transfer the plot round to deal with different characters. How is that course of for you?
MR. DRUCKMANN: It’s not liberating, however it was–it was form of thrilling from two views. One is that, you understand, I had a extremely robust co-writer with Craig Mazin, who’s been considering lots about this recreation and what we may present in it and the way we can–again, go away Joel and Ellie’s perspective, and people are ideas I’ve had. You recognize, in attempting to construct the world, you typically write and outline greater than what the participant goes to expertise. So that they don’t see the sides. Once more, you need to outline as a lot as–further than what the participant sees. So, once more, they don’t really feel just like the world ends the place their expertise ends.
With the show–and, you understand, we’ve got to be very considerate about this. We could–because you’re not–you usually are not Joel. You aren’t Ellie. You’re watching their journey, however you get to go away their perspective.
By the way in which, I do know you’ve seen your complete present, so I don’t know how–I assume we’re proper earlier than the embargo. So I don’t understand how a lot you can discuss it.
MR. DRUCKMANN: However we get to see these actually form of attention-grabbing views that talk to that theme of affection and the fantastic issues that may come of it and the horrible issues that may come of it. Once more, that’s our objective with this story, and in a manner, it might probably strengthen the journey that Joel and Ellie go to.
So, for instance, once they crash their truck and so they go in opposition to, quote/unquote, “hunters,” we get to humanize that obs–what is an impediment for them. However, subsequently, I believe their battle turns into that a lot higher since you understand they’re preventing in opposition to individuals which can be additionally attempting to outlive. They’re additionally looking for their manner on this world. They don’t seem to be simply henchman, you understand, and that is an idea we attempt to discover way more within the second recreation than we did within the first. However I believe that is been actually enjoyable is to attempt to humanize everyone as a lot as doable, as a result of once more, in the end, we’re all individuals. It is simply one thing. There’s some motivation. One thing is placing us at odds, after which that exploration of like, okay, how will we resolve this battle? To me, typically that is the juiciest a part of the story.
MR. PARK: Taking part in via video games, there’s so many multimedia interwoven all through the story. A Pearl Jam tune is central to the themes of “The Final of Us Half II,” and naturally, there’s the Hank Williams Sr. tune, talking of the crashing into the truck, you understand, “Alone and Forsaken.” And it was featured in trailer.
For me, I’m fascinated with people who find themselves capable of do form of cross-media inspiration. Like, for instance, Steve Jobs was closely impressed by Bob Dylan and the Bob Dylan pathos and the way it impressed him to create the corporate Apple. So how–who are a few of the artists that encourage you, if in any respect, and do they in any respect translate into what you do as a online game creator?
MR. DRUCKMANN: Oh, man. There’s so many. I don’t–like, let me take into consideration the place to start out. It’s attention-grabbing you talked about music, as a result of I believe music has all the time been a big a part of my life. I typically take heed to music after I’m writing or fascinated about ideas.
MR. DRUCKMANN: Anyone that follows me on social media is aware of I’m an enormous Pearl Jam fan, and it’s a band that, you understand, I’ve admired since I used to be an adolescent. And I’ve–I like artists which can be, in some methods, uncompromising, that they–and they evolve. They don’t simply keep on with the same–again, they’re not simply chasing success by attempting to duplicate earlier success. They’re evolving and altering over time. In case you take heed to Pearl Jam music now, it’s very, very completely different than the early ’90s once they got here out. However I discover it equally compelling.
One other individual that involves thoughts is Trent Reznor from 9 Inch Nails of–another that has advanced his music over time and has ventured into different media, has now–composes music for–well, has accomplished video games however now does movie and TV in addition to doing–and then there’s–I believe the form of apparent ones from gaming with Fumito Ueda, one other artist that to me feels uncompromising in his imaginative and prescient and has a via line for all of the stuff that he’s labored on that’s one thing I take into consideration lots.
Not too long ago, Ron Gilbert is one other one who launched a brand new “Monkey Island,” and it felt that it actually was a continuation of this–a sure style that he brough to that sequence. I used to be really–I may really feel it enjoying it. You could possibly really feel like form of like that artist hand in that recreation. Once more, it’s a collaboration, however there’s a sure imaginative and prescient there, sure, like, high quality to it that felt very a lot of his style.
Yeah, these are a few of the ones that come to thoughts.
MR. PARK: Yeah. Final query. What’s the most–what’s thrilling factor about video video games right now and video game–creating a online game, online game storytelling? Like, what excites you concerning the future, not simply 2023 however past?
MR. DRUCKMANN: It is humorous. I get this query generally like, “Oh, effectively, the place do you assume video games are going to be in 5 years?” I believe what’s thrilling about video games is that nobody can reply that query.
MR. DRUCKMANN: In case you have been to go like after I was beginning out and attempt to guess the place VR can be or the place cellular video games can be or free-to-play, I don’t assume anybody may have predicted these issues.
So the factor I like about video games is how broad it might be, that there might be cinematic video games subsequent to actually intense–like one in all my recreation of the years this yr is “Vampire Survivors.” I’ve performed simply 100 hours in that recreation.
MR. DRUCKMANN: I’m afraid of flying, however I discovered like they’re–like, if I’m enjoying “Vampire Survivors,” I don’t even take into consideration the airplane anymore, and I’m just–I’m simply within the zone. I’m on this movement.
MR. PARK: Dude, I’m afraid of flying too, and I really performed a ton of “Vampire Survivors” whereas I used to be within the hospital just lately too, and it was–it was like probably the most engrossing factor, you understand.
MR. DRUCKMANN: Yeah. It’s just–I don’t know what it’s, however it occupies like virtually my complete mind and I’m simply there.
One other recreation, additionally one in all my prime video games this yr, clearly “Elden Ring,” large fan of that.
“The Case of the Golden Idol,” I don’t know in the event you’ve performed that, however it’s a homicide thriller, puzzle recreation is one of the simplest ways I can describe it. It’s form of like “Obra Dinn” by Lucas Pope. Possibly, perhaps a–sorry, Lucas–maybe a bit extra approachable.
MR. DRUCKMANN: However the way in which it makes use of puzzle mechanics to inform you the story and to get to spend money on these characters after which every stage grows in complexity and–complexity of puzzles but additionally complexity of narrative and the narrative turns into form of bigger, and there’s a bigger solid of characters, that by the point I obtained to the later ranges, I used to be so invested in characters, that on paper, I shouldn’t be invested in any of this. And it simply did it so brilliantly. It’s onerous to not get impressed by that. And, once more, I couldn’t have predicted that that’s the form of recreation that may have grabbed me to such a level and moved me emotionally to such a level, and that’s the factor that I like about video games is that they’re consistently shocking in the place they’re going and what they’re doing. And I discover that for me a minimum of, there’s no method to predict the place it’s going or what it’s going to be, however I’m intrigued by loads of it and what’s coming subsequent.
MR. PARK: That’s true. You recognize, like for me, I used to be considering like I actually wanted a deep, wealthy, like, story, narrative recreation. After which “Vampire Survivors” got here alongside, and I used to be like, oh, this is–it seems that is precisely what I wanted.
However I’m very excited for what Naughty Canine has deliberate for this yr. Once more, 2023 is the tenth anniversary of “The Final of Us,” and I’m–like you, I’m very excited and anxious to see how individuals will react to the present.
However we’re nearly out of time. We’re about at time proper now, however, Mr. Neil Druckmann, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us right here at The Washington Submit. Congratulations on all the things, and better of luck to you.
MR. DRUCKMANN: Gene, it has been a pleasure. Let’s do it once more quickly. Trying ahead to it.
MR. PARK: Completely, completely. Take care, Neil.
MR. PARK: Oh, sorry. And because of–sorry. And thanks all for becoming a member of us right now. To take a look at what interviews we’ve got arising, please go to WashingtonPostLive.com and discover out extra about all of the completely different talks that we’ve got arising on The Washington Submit.
Once more, my title is Gene Park for The Washington Submit. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us, and have an awesome day.
