Full-Time
Senior Lighting Artist
Posted on 8/21/2026
Naughty Dog
1,001-5,000 employees
Creates exclusive, story-driven video games for PlayStation
Compensation Overview
$69.09 - $86.35/hr
Santa Monica, CA, USA
Hybrid
Hybrid/onsite work is required.
 Art, Graphics & Animation (1) |
|---|
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- A minimum of 7 years of experience in games, animation, visual effects, or film.
- Experience shipping a AAA game or equivalent.
- Understanding of direct and indirect light, color theory, exposure, and contrast.
- Understanding of shading and materials and their relationship with lighting.
- Artistic ability to interpret concept art and color keys to recreate mood and atmosphere in a game environment.
- Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya.
- Understanding of color grading with proficiency in industry-standard software such as Nuke, Fusion, or Resolve.
- Problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Time-management and organizational skills.
- Ability to work with minimal direction.
- Ability to work under pressure while completing time-sensitive projects.
- A portfolio or demo reel of work; candidates may also be asked to complete an art test.
- Develop lighting schemes for characters and environments while working closely with directors and the concept art team.
- Collaborate with the Level Lighting team to integrate in-game cinematics smoothly with gameplay.
- Collaborate with multiple departments to ensure in-game cinematics remain within the memory budget without sacrificing visual quality.
- Work with outsource vendors and lighting artists on visual looks, technology, training, and workflows, giving and receiving feedback.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
- Experience with real-time engines.
- Experience generating light maps, pre-lighting, or baked lighting.
- Experience with scripting.
Naughty Dog is a video game developer known for creating story-driven, high-quality games that are exclusive to PlayStation. Its products are AAA console games built around cinematic narratives, memorable characters, and detailed worlds, released as physical and digital titles with additional DLCs and remasters. The company collaborates on related media projects, such as a TV series adaptation of The Last of Us with HBO, to extend its franchises beyond games. What sets Naughty Dog apart is its track record of iconic franchises (like Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us), multiple Game of the Year awards, and a strong emphasis on emotional engagement and character development, all while staying tightly integrated with PlayStation hardware and ecosystems. The goal is to maintain leadership in story-driven gaming, grow a loyal fan base, support the PlayStation platform, and expand its franchises into other media to reach broader audiences.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Acquired
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
Founded
1984
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Intergalactic began in 2020 and job postings in June 2026 suggest late-stage development.
- Naughty Dog marked Uncharted 4's tenth anniversary in May 2026, keeping franchises monetizable.
- A second unannounced project remains active, and March 2025 reports tied Shaun Escayg to it.
What critics are saying
- Sony reportedly wants more new releases after The Last of Us Part II in 2020.
- The Last of Us Online died in December 2023, proving live-service execution failed internally.
- If Intergalactic slips past 2027, Naughty Dog becomes a remaster factory and loses cultural relevance.
What makes Naughty Dog unique
- Naughty Dog pairs blockbuster production values with cinematic storytelling, still unmatched in PlayStation Studios.
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, announced December 12, 2024, gives Naughty Dog a fresh IP.
- Neil Druckmann and Shaun Escayg anchor a deep bench spanning Uncharted, TLOU, and Intergalactic.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Wellness Program
Remote Work Options
Hybrid Work Options
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 19%1 year growth
↑ 19%2 year growth
↑ 18%PlayStation's declining first-party game sales Shows that its live service gamble hasn't paid off. Last updated: 2026/06/02 at 5:09 PM During the PS4 generation, PlayStation knocked it out of the park with its first-party lineup. It released hit after single-player hit, ranging from smaller titles like Concrete Genie and Tearaway Unfolded to juggernauts like the God of War 2018 reboot. PlayStation frankly left Xbox in the dust when it came to first-party releases, and with Nintendo focusing on the ill-fated Wii U for half of the 8th console gen, it's easy to argue that Sony's console brand triumphed over all throughout this era. PlayStation's single-player games were very successful on the PS4; so successful, in fact, that it started to make less of them for the PS5. Indeed, rather than double down on what made it so lucrative, PlayStation decided to do what virtually every publisher its size has done at some point: focus on live service games. Under former CEO Jim Ryan's reign, PlayStation did everything it possibly could to make its own Fortnite. In 2022, the company projected that it would release a whopping 12 live service games by the end of 2025. That year has come and gone, however, and most of these games are nowhere to be found. Most of PlayStation's live service games have been failures. It would be disingenuous of me to claim that PlayStation hasn't launched any good live service games this generation, but the few that it did release have mostly been failures. Sure, while the company does have its Helldivers 2s and MLB The Shows, it has almost nothing else aside from that. Destruction All-Stars was the first live service title that PlayStation released as part of its live service pivot, and it launched to nothing but a resounding groan. The game initially debuted on PS5 as a pay-to-play title, but it sold so poorly that PlayStation decided to add it to its PS Plus subscription service. Even then, it wasn't able to attract many fans. As for its other live service titles... well, they kind of don't exist. Concord, the multiplayer FPS that looked like a weird cross between Overwatch and Guardians of the Galaxy, infamously got shut down just a few weeks after its release. Likewise, the PSVR2-exclusive Firewall Ultra debuted in 2023 with virtually no marketing, and it was delisted from the PlayStation storefront earlier this year. Many of the other live service titles that PlayStation claimed to be working on have just been outright canceled: Naughty Dog, PlayStation's premier single-player studio, was working on an online game set in the Last of Us universe. Insomniac, too, was making a multiplayer game as part of its Spider-Man saga. Even Bend Studio, the creators of Days Gone, were reportedly working on a live service title of some kind. None of these games, however, have ever seen the light of day. And with upcoming PlayStation title Fairgames also reportedly undergoing development woes, it seems that this whole experiment from Sony has been nothing but a resounding failure. Recent data collected by industry insider Stephen Totilo suggests that there is indeed information to back this up. PlayStation's first-party games have been experiencing a decline in sales. In a paywalled report published by Totilo on his website, the insider revealed that PlayStation's first-party game sales have gradually declined in the last few fiscal years. Though the company experienced a peak in software sales during fiscal year 2020 (coincidentally, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic), it has largely been on a downward trend ever since... with one notable exception, fiscal year 2025. This year, it's worth noting, is the same year that Ghost of Yotei released. Ghost of Yotei seems, by all accounts and purposes, to have been a massive success for PlayStation. Reports suggest that the game has been outpacing Ghost of Tsushima in sales, despite launching on a console with a far smaller install base. Looking at the game, it's easy to see why it's been so popular. Ghost of Yotei is exactly the type of title that diehard fans have wanted from PlayStation: blockbuster single-player games. While Sony's live service efforts have languished during this console generation, its single-player titles have largely been resounding hits. God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon: Forbidden West were critical and commercial successes, and Astro Bot managed to win Game of the Year while also selling more than a million copies. PlayStation's focus on live service has harmed its single-player efforts. I'd wager that the reason why PlayStation's first-party game sales have been declining in recent years has nothing to do with the quality of its single-player titles or their commercial performance. Rather, the company simply hasn't released enough of them, thanks in part to its failed efforts to chase the cash cow that is live service. Compared to the PS4 generation, PlayStation's first-party lineup during the PS5 era has been relatively slim. The firm has been able to make do by signing various exclusivity deals with third-party companies, but its own studios have had little to offer, due to this live service initiative. Admittedly, there are many potential reasons that one can argue have contributed to PlayStation's drop in sales, but the lack of single-player games and, in turn, the firm's live service efforts, seem to be the ones that makes the most sense. PlayStation has spent several years developing multiplayer games that will never come out. It's a shame, then, that all this money it wasted didn't go to funding the development of single-player titles instead.
Sony reportedly unhappy with Naughty Dog for lack of new games this generation. Their Last New Title Was TLOU Part 2 Released in 2020! Story Highlight * New report reveals that Sony is angry at Naughty Dog for no new release this gen. * The studio's last new game was The Last of Us Part 2, released over 6 years ago. * Since then, it has mostly released remasters or remakes of its older titles. Naughty Dog is one of Sony's biggest and most-trusted in-house allies. It has delivered humongous hits over the years with franchises like Uncharted and The Last of Us. However, the studio has been rather sluggish as of late. For context, its last new game that wasn't a remake or remaster was The Last of Part 2, released in 2020. A new report reveals that Sony is now angry with Naughty Dog for a lack of new games in the PS5 generation. Why it matters: In hindsight, one could take it as a positive sign that the studio is taking its time to deliver the best experience, but this makes the last new release over 7 years old, which is an alarmingly slow pace. In a Bluesky post, a person commented on Jason Schreier's Bungie article, stating that Sony has let Naughty Dog spend years and massive budgets developing new games, and doesn't seem to have any issues with it. To which Schreier replied that they "definitely have an issue" with how the situation is at the studio. They are currently developing their new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and Tech4gamers still don't have a release window. The game was first revealed at The Game Awards 2024, and since then, the studio has been quiet about it. There are rumors that it is still probably a couple of years away, which means it might even skip PS5. This is a bad look for a studio Sony is so heavily reliant on. This means that the only games from Naughty Dog that the PS5 generation will get will probably be the remakes or remasters of its older games. Latest Updates What are your thoughts on Sony being angry with Naughty Dog for no new releases this gen? Let Tech4gamers know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum. Was its article helpful? How could Tech4gamers improve this post? Please Help Tech4gamers. News Reporter Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can't find him anywhere, he'll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn't playing games, he's either reading or writing about them. Join its community. Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support! 104,000 Fans Like 32,122 Followers Follow
PlayStation State of Play and Xbox changes signal major gaming industry shift. PlayStation prepares a major June showcase featuring Wolverine gameplay reveals and multiple first-party project updates. Hardware by Okazaki on May 25, 2026 Computer & Video Games A fresh slew of upcoming game releases is set to define the course of Xbox and PlayStation for the summer showcase season. As PlayStation prepares its next big event, State of Play, and Xbox introduces a new feedback system and restructures leadership, both major console makers are making adjustments to their exclusive policies, platforms, and longer-term strategies. Meanwhile, Warhorse Studios has announced a few new RPGs, offering players some more big projects to dream of. Sony and PlayStation officially announced that the new State of Play showcase will take place on June 2. It's claimed the showcase will run for more than an hour, and Sony says it's dedicated to sharing more of Wolverine, as well as updates, announcements, and gameplay reveals from studios around the world. PlayStation's June State of Play indices to larger plans. This is important because it arrives in the same window as the old E3, either at Summer Game Fest or during the typical early-June period when all the shows are held. Between Xbox presentations, Nintendo rumors, and PlayStation joining the fray, this week is looking very busy for gamers. Another tidbit: Sony is hosting special live watch parties at select Alamo Drafthouse locations across the US. It is said to be giving away free tickets for the event. The move will make the presentation appear larger and indicate that Sony anticipates high demand for the announcements. Several rumored and expected projects are already scheduled to appear. Online, there are rumors that Naughty Dog is working on another Intergalactic project, another Marvel Tokon, another Fairgames, another Horizon Hunters Gathering, and another God of War project. But the greater dream is to see something new rather than merely projects that are already familiar. One of the most awaited titles is still Marvel's Wolverine. The old trailer was also special in that it wasn't full of systems or trends, but it was still more of a third-person action brawler. That's enough to make many players want to play the game, and more gameplay footage could easily be one of the showcase's most significant highlights. Xbox releases a Player Voice feedback system. Xbox introduces a system to receive player voice feedback. The Xbox side of things has recently been re-branded as just Xbox in all caps, and the more interesting change has been the addition of Xbox Player Voice. The new system will be more direct in gathering player feedback and will provide users with updates on how their suggestions are being considered or acted upon. The Xbox platform allows users to provide feedback, monitor updates, and understand how their feedback can shape the platform's future, Xbox said. It is also integrated with the Xbox Insider support forums and other community features. The idea seems good, as feedback and updates are something that players have been wanting for years. Meanwhile, there is still interest in which parts of the system merit long-term support versus normal platform messaging. Windows Central had already been reporting on some of the most requested feedback entries. Fewer ads on the home screen, the ability to customize music on the menu, achievement information for legacy Xbox titles, on-the-go streaming through Xbox That Looked Like YT, lower Xbox hardware costs, free online multiplayer, and expanded Xbox backward compatibility support are all things players want to see. Computer & Video Games Players want less advertising on the home screen, menu music customization, achievement info for older Xbox games, built-in streaming support like PlayStation's backward compatibility, lower Xbox game hardware prices, and fully free online multiplayer, among other things. The most interesting trend, however, is the definite demand for Xbox-exclusive titles. One of the player's top wants is for the return of the Xbox-only games, the report said. This is a comment on what players currently value most. But features and services remain important; only many players are looking for better games that are directly connected to the platform. From its point of view, exclusivity isn't a problem at all; it's the quality of the games. Players are still focused on games rather than services, ecosystem messaging, and platform strategy, and that's the biggest takeaway from the feedback system so far. Sony is reportedly stepping back from PC releases. Sony is reportedly diverting resources from PC releases. Another major report about PlayStation confirms that Sony is changing its approach to PCs. PlayStation Studios CEO Herman Hulst apparently told employees that big single-player PlayStation games will remain console-only going forward, Bloomberg reported. After missing release dates for a few years, Sony has been releasing games on PC, including Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us. That seemed to be a way to extend PlayStation's footprint without endangering console sales. But now, the company is moving away from that approach, according to reports. The change is said to be in response to disappointing sales of some PC ports. Sony seems to be going with exclusives once again, mostly to drive console sales. It also provides a fascinating snapshot of the PlayStation gaming platform's history, as the console briefly entered the PC space and made some of Sony's biggest releases available to players on PCs. Years later, it might seem like a phase in PlayStation's business life in which the console's publishers, especially in terms of title support, were more diverse, but eventually reverted to a more focused, traditional approach. For many gamers, that's a disappointment, since many of those PC variants offered superb experiences. When Ghost of Tsushima was ported to a high-end PC setup, it became one of the best examples of how good those ports could be. Xbox moves on strategy hiring. Xbox continues with leadership changes and strategic hiring. Xbox continues to bring on new leadership as part of its ongoing restructuring. Matthew Ball has been appointed the new Chief Strategy Officer, and he's one of the biggest hires. Matthew Ball is a familiar name for his annual State of Video Gaming reports, which are huge industry data analyses that have been picked up by analysts and developers alike. He was particularly interested in industry change, media, gaming economics, and long-haul platform strategy. Action & Platform Games The hire is notable, coming from someone not typically on a first-party development route, but rather with an analyst and media background. Xbox is to introduce additional leadership voices and redefine its longer-term direction. Reportedly, Ball's initial priorities will be to beef up Xbox's console line amid rising unit costs and manufacturing pressures. Xbox also brought on Scott Van Vliet as its Chief Technology Officer. He has experience with Microsoft AI infrastructure and first-hand experience with mobile games and Amazon Studios projects. The changes all point to a long-term revamp of Xbox's platform strategy, infrastructure, and tech development. The next thing to be seen is how all these changes will manifest in the actual games created and released. Editor, NoobFeed
Naughty Dog shares free 'Uncharted' PSN download, but is it a hint for a new game? 'Uncharted 4's' 10th anniversary brings new freebies to the PS5. Naughty Dog has a special treat for all fans as they are now offering a new free "Uncharted" PSN download for users on the PlayStation 5 as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End." However, there are speculations that this freebie may be hinting at a new game that will continue the iconic franchise that ended 10 years ago. Naughty Dog: free 'Uncharted' PSN download. Naughty Dog has released a free "Uncharted" PSN download to mark the 10th anniversary of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End." A brand new "Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection" PS5 Welcome Hub background is now available at no cost, with that particular freebie being limited to PS5 users given the Welcome Hub is a PS5 exclusive feature. On top of the background, four new "Uncharted 4" themed avatars are available on the PlayStation Store for both PS5 and PS4 users. Choose the code from your region to download all four avatars from the PS Store: * Americas: HG23-6T4H-RNHQ * Europe/Australia: R3ED-24QD-E4DM * Japan: L8EF-LAC6-PH3B * Korea: FHT3-4RGP-RBJ8 * Asia: PEC5-32RK-EPEQ Sadly, there are no characters featured in said avatars, including the game's protagonist, Nathan Drake. Speaking of Nathan, here's some good news. Naughty Dog released a special video on YouTube where Nolan North, the actor who portrayed Nathan, addresses fans with a 10th anniversary message. 'Uncharted' freebie: is this a hint at a new game? The anniversary celebration has naturally gotten fans wondering whether something bigger is on the way. According to ComicBook Gaming, they find it odd that PlayStation and Naughty Dog celebrated a game that has been dormant for all these years. That said, there have been rumors of the studio developing an "Uncharted 5" game, but no concrete details have surfaced nor was it confirmed by the company. Naughty Dog is focused on the development of its other franchises, including its upcoming original title, "Heretic: The Intergalactic Prophet," whose official release date is yet to be confirmed. On the other hand, there are also several mentions to "The Last of Us 3," but this, too, is not yet a sure thing. For now, the speculations remain as is as there are no confirmations from Naughty Dog or PlayStation regarding a new title or even a remake under the "Uncharted" franchise.
Uncharted 5: new hero and release date leaked. Naughty Dog is currently hard at work on its new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. However, it turns out that this isn't the only game in development. The company has already confirmed that it's working on another, as-yet-unannounced project. According to insider Alir, that project could be Uncharted 5. If confirmed, the new installment in the cult series could arrive sooner than expected. Uncharted 5 event options. The ending of Uncharted 4 made it clear that Nathan Drake's story was complete. Players were shown his quiet life with his family and his adult daughter, Cassie. It is Cassie who is currently at the center of fan theories. Some in the community believe the new game could focus on a father-daughter duo. This approach seems logical, as the studio has already successfully employed a similar model in The Last of Us series. The idea is simple: a seasoned adventurer passes on his skills to a new generation. Mobile phones Smartphones "Sounds like a cool concept - a father and daughter duo searching for treasure. It would be fun to play as both," wrote one fan. However, not everyone is thrilled with the idea. Other players believe it's a repeat of a familiar formula. When will Uncharted 5 be released? Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is rumored to be released in mid-2027. If the studio is indeed working on two major projects simultaneously, then a 2028 release for Uncharted 5 seems realistic. For fans who have waited nearly a decade since Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, this feels like a long-awaited return. For now, this is just a leak and speculation. Naughty Dog hasn't officially confirmed the game itself, its plot, or its protagonist. But interest in the franchise clearly isn't waning, and the pressure of anticipation is only growing. Uncharted 5 could be a turning point for the series. It will either be a gentle handover to a new hero or a surprising return for an old one. People, horses, and parkour. A new trailer has been released for Mafia: The Old Country, which is increasingly reminiscent of Uncharted. Special projectsFrom an old institution to a data-product company: how State Statistics 2.0 wasBROCARD: how a beauty retailer develops a mobile product - a look at the launch and great gamification