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Former Naughty Dog VFX artist Matt Radford says he understands the studio’s role as helping sell Sony hardware—but that is his interpretation, not an official description of the company’s purpose. The distinction matters: the idea offers one explanation for why Sony might value high-profile, expensive single-player games even when a studio is not focused on recurring revenue, but the report does not establish that those games measurably increase hardware sales.
What Matt Radford said
GamesRadar+ reports that Radford, who worked on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, made the comment in an interview with Kiwi Talkz. His wording was: “My understanding is really that Naughty Dog exists to sell Sony hardware.” He also described the studio as a “flagship to sell the hardware.” Both statements are Radford’s, as quoted by GamesRadar+, rather than a disclosed Sony or Naughty Dog policy. GamesRadar+’s October 6, 2026 report attributes the remarks to that interview; the interview itself was not independently verified for this account.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Last of Us Part I – PlayStation 5 | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Last of Us Part 1 - For PlayStation 5 | $42.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS5 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What the hardware argument means
Radford’s explanation is that a studio known for major releases can be valuable to Sony beyond the direct sales of its games. A prominent title may give players another reason to consider a PlayStation console, making the studio part of the broader appeal of Sony’s hardware. That is the logic behind calling Naughty Dog a “flagship,” not evidence that a particular game caused a measurable increase in console sales.
This framing also helps explain why a first-party studio might not pursue the same business model as a company whose main priority is recurring revenue. A publisher could value a game for its contribution to the platform’s appeal as well as for the game’s own sales. Radford’s comments suggest that possibility; they do not document Sony’s internal targets, accounting, or decision-making.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
What the report does—and does not—establish
The report points to The Last of Us Part II and Uncharted 4 as examples of Naughty Dog’s work, but it supplies no sales analysis showing that either title sold PlayStation hardware. It also contains no official Sony statement saying that hardware sales are Naughty Dog’s purpose, and no verified development-budget figures that establish how much the studio’s games cost. The reported phrase “$600 million or some astronomical figure” is speculation in a discussion of future game costs, not a verified Naughty Dog budget or a sourced industry statistic.
So the careful reading is narrower than the headline’s shorthand: Radford believes Naughty Dog’s flagship status can serve Sony’s hardware business. The available reporting presents that as an informed former employee’s view, not a proven measure of the studio’s commercial impact or a formal corporate mission statement.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
Rank #2
- Enhanced visuals: Completely rebuilt from the ground up using Naughty Dog’s latest PS5 engine technology to improve every visual detail, The Last of Us experience has been faithfully enhanced with more realistic lighting and atmosphere, more intricate environments and creative reimaginings of familiar spaces.
- Fast loading: Initial loading times are near instant, and seamless after the first instance thanks to the PS5 console’s SSD – so you can pick up where you left off in the story and load specific encounters and chapters more quickly.
- Haptic feedback: DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback support for every weapon elevates combat encounters, and environments are brought to life through DualSense wireless controller haptic sensations of subtle falling rain, the crunch of stepping on snow and more.
- Adaptive triggers: All The Last of Us iconic weapons, including Joel’s revolver and Ellie’s bow, now deliver dynamic DualSense wireless controller trigger resistance and kickback on firing for deeper combat immersion.
- 3D Audio: Designed to make use of the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, Naughty Dog’s newly upgraded audio engine delivers richer soundscapes, bigger explosive moments and more visceral gameplay through compatible stereo headphones (analogue or USB) or TV speakers.
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