New Jak & Daxter Isn't In Development, But Naughty Dog Wishes It Was
Sony first-party game developer Naughty Dog is unfortunately not working on any new Jak and Daxter games, but co-president Evan Wells the series still holds a special place in the studio's heart. The last Jak and Daxter game (outside of a number of remaster collections and bundles) to release for a PlayStation console was the PSP's Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier in 2009, while creator Naughty Dog hasn't touched the franchise since 2004's Jak 3. Players have long hoped that the action platformer series would get a revival similar to Ratchet & Clank, but that's looking evermore uncertain.
The famed developer hasn't officially announced its next game, but reports indicate that Naughty Dog's developing a PS5 remake of The Last of Us and supervising on a new Uncharted game. According to reports, neither of these games started out at Naughty Dog but ultimately ended up in its hands after troubled productions at other studios. Naughty Dog is apparently also working on more projects stil, including what is believed to be a full-blown multiplayer The Last of Us 2 spin-off. With the studio's stacked plate, it makes sense there may be no plans for a new Jak and Daxter for the foreseeable future.
Evan Wells spoke with Insomniac Games head Ted Price for his Game Maker's Notebook podcast (via VGC) and spoke about the various online fans that want Naughty Dog to make a new game in the Jak and Daxter series. Despite Naughty Dog noting it has cool projects in the works, it doesn't seem like the beloved PS2 series will be part of it. Explaining his and Naughty Dog's position, Wells lamented:
"I hate to break it to them, [but] we do not have Jak & Daxter here in development right now. But we still love the characters and I see what you guys [at Insomniac] are doing with Ratchet and that makes me wish that we did, and we would have one in development, because there’s still a lot of love for Jak & Daxter in the studio.”
Wells wishing that Naughty Dog had a new Jak and Daxter in development isn't exactly shocking, given the recent boom in iconic platformers returning. Naughty Dog is no doubt busy with all of its various IPs, both in gaming and now TV, as well, but PlayStation not having had the foresight to capitalize on the 3D mascot platformer renaissance with two of its most iconic franchises is certainly a shame.
Of course, that doesn't mean a new Jak and Dexter will never happen, but that's the state of things at Naughty Dog at present. Perhaps, after Naughty Dog is ready to move away from The Last of Us, the team could return to Jak and Daxter. Whether that's only a matter of a few years or a decade (or more) remains to be seen.
Source: Game Maker's Notebook (via VGC)