Breaking News: Shocking Departure! Naughty Dog Co-President and HBO's The Last of Us Executive Producer Abruptly Resigns

Evan Wells, the co-president of Naughty Dog and executive producer of HBO's The Last of Us, has announced his departure from the studio. Having spent most of his career at Naughty Dog since the late 1990s, Wells has been involved in numerous major games and series. His notable credits include Crash Bandicoot: Warped, the Jak and Daxter series, the Uncharted series, and the Last of Us series.

Initially joining Naughty Dog as a lead designer, Wells rose through the ranks and became co-president in 2004. Under his leadership, the studio achieved great success, with their most recent release being The Last of Us Part 2. In addition to his work in the gaming industry, Wells also ventured into TV and film production. He served as an executive director for the Uncharted movie and HBO's new series based on The Last of Us. The first season of The Last of Us set a new standard for video game adaptations and received high praise, including recognition for Wells. After a long and successful career, he has now announced his retirement from Naughty Dog.

In a statement released by Naughty Dog on July 11, Wells announced his plans to step away from the company "at the end of this year." In a heartfelt open letter, Wells looked back on his career and expressed gratitude towards his dedicated colleagues and friends at the studio for their unwavering effort and support. Additionally, he conveyed his utmost confidence in the studio's future under the leadership of his co-president, Neil Druckmann, who will soon be taking the helm solo.

Wells' letter had a bittersweet tone, expressing both sorrow for the end of an era and excitement and optimism for what lies ahead. The announcement did not specify when Wells would be leaving or provide any insight into his future plans. However, he did mention that he eagerly awaits witnessing the studio's achievements after his departure.

Although Wells disclosed that he had been discussing this decision with his co-president and other studio leaders for some time, the announcement is expected to catch many fans and industry observers off guard. With rumors circulating about the development of The Last of Us 3, a potential sci-fi game in progress, and plans for a new season of the HBO series, Wells will be stepping away from several major projects.

The current departure does not provide any information on how it will affect the company's leadership or the future Naughty Dog projects that Druckmann recently hinted at. Wells is expected to remain in his current position for a few more months, unless further changes are made. After that, if no other adjustments occur, Druckmann will assume full control of the studio. With Druckmann's extensive track record and years of experience with Naughty Dog, fans can have confidence that the studio will be in capable hands during and after the upcoming transition.