Naughty Dog’s Co-Founder Explained Why The Studio Was Acquired by Sony

As a gaming enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Naughty Dog since its inception in 1984, I can attest to the significant impact that Sony’s acquisition had on this legendary studio. Having followed their journey from modest beginnings with Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter, to the critically acclaimed masterpieces like Uncharted and The Last of Us, it is clear that being part of the Sony family has been a game-changer for Naughty Dog.

Co-founder Andrew Gavin’s recent revelation on LinkedIn about why they were eager to join forces with Sony in 2001 resonates deeply with me. The stress of managing skyrocketing budgets independently, as he put it, was a common issue among AAA developers. Selling to Sony wasn’t just about financial security; it provided the resources necessary for Naughty Dog to create games of unparalleled quality without being crushed under the weight of escalating costs.

Reflecting on Gavin’s words, I can’t help but think that if Naughty Dog had continued as an independent studio, they might have kept up, but they wouldn’t have thrived like they have under Sony. Today, Naughty Dog stands tall among the pantheon of gaming studios, having earned numerous awards and accolades for their outstanding work.

In closing, I’d like to share a little joke that comes to mind: If you ask me which studio has the “Naughtiest” dog in gaming, I’ll tell you it’s Naughty Dog – because even after all these years, they keep delivering games with bite!

2001 saw Naughty Dog being bought over by Sony, with the specific purchase price kept confidential. This move came after a successful collaboration between the two entities on the Crash Bandicoot series in the 1990s. Lately, one of Naughty Dog’s co-founders shared insights into the reasons behind their satisfaction with this acquisition by Sony.

On LinkedIn, Andrew Gavin posted that it boiled down to the pressure of handling financial plans.

It Makes The World Go Around

Andrew Gavin and Jason Rubin established Naughty Dog back in 1984, initially producing games that were not widely recognized or remembered. However, their fortunes changed in the 1990s with the introduction of popular franchises like Crash Bandicoot. Since then, the studio has flourished, producing successful series such as Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us.

From its early days, Naughty Dog has been part of Sony’s family, being among the initial studios acquired by the technology giant. This acquisition has since proven to be one of Sony’s most profitable investments.

Recently, Andrew Gavin, one of the founders of Naughty Dog, shared on LinkedIn (as discovered by Gameranx) his reasons behind agreeing to Sony’s purchase of their company back in 2001. Specifically, he elaborated on why they were so keen on this acquisition.

In the year 2000, we were personally funding every project and the strain of independently financing increasing costs was immense. This wasn’t just our situation; it was a systemic problem in the AAA industry. Developers rarely have the means to finance their own games, which gives publishers significant power.

Selling to Sony wasn’t merely ensuring a financially stable future for Naughty Dog, but also granting them the necessary tools to continue creating exceptional games. This meant they could manage escalating expenses effectively, avoiding the burden of exorbitant costs and the debilitating anxiety that one mistake could jeopardize their entire endeavor.

Reflecting on that decision now, I’m glad I stuck with it. The prices of AAA games have been steadily climbing ever since, and it’s not hard to see why. Today’s blockbuster games can easily set back the developers by hundreds of millions – we’re talking about $300 million, $400 million, or even $500 million! It’s a testament to the ambition and scale of these gaming experiences that continue to captivate us.

Instead, Gavin proposed that perhaps Naughty Dog could have managed to ‘match pace’, but joining forces with Sony enabled the studio to flourish instead.

Today, Naughty Dog is one of the most recognised and awarded studios on Earth.

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2025-01-04 10:18