Whether you’re a fan of Naughty Dog games or not—and let’s face it, you probably are—there’s no denying that their work often features some stellar animation. And now, one of the developers heavily involved in animating their recent games has officially left the company.
After joining Naughty Dog to work on Uncharted 4, Jonathan Cooper has had a hand in all of the titles that followed, including The Last of Us Part II. As such, it came as an immense surprise when the animator announced his departure.
“I've decide [sic] to part ways with Naughty Dog,” Cooper wrote in a recent Twitter post. “I'm thankful to have contributed to the PS4 era of this storied studio, and I wish them luck in their future endeavours.”
Aside from Cooper’s egress, The Last of Us Part II has experienced a few shake-ups, as it recently saw its original February 2020 release date get pushed back several months. And with the developer frequently touting the animation techniques for the sequel, it will be interesting to see if Cooper’s absence will affect the game’s development.
The Last of Us Part II is currently scheduled to launch exclusively for the PlayStation 4 on May 29, 2020.