Writer

This position is for a temporary engagement through our staffing partner, DZConneX Services. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

Ability to work hybrid from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is preferred but not required.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us. 

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

Naughty Dog is offering a rare opportunity to join our writing team working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet! This role inhabits the intersection where characters meet worldbuilding, creating stories that can be experienced “on the stick.” In this role, you’ll be responsible for conceptualizing and crafting dialogue, engaging lore, and environmental storytelling that enhance locations and gameplay moments.

We are looking for someone who brings fresh perspectives, a strong vision for their work, and a passion for creating high-quality narrative experiences to the table. An expert in story craft invigorated by challenges and pushing new frontiers of narrative, who can balance contributing original ideas and maintaining tone within the overall narrative vision. This role will collaborate closely with creative and game directors, artists, and game designers who will inspire you to make the best work you’ve ever made.

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates may be asked to complete a writing test.

What you will do:

• Collaborate with the Narrative Director and writing team to create cinematic and gameplay experiences
• Partner with game designers and other departments to create spaces rich in environmental storytelling, ensuring the narrative consistency of the world
• Craft and write memorable and authentic character dialogue and lore
• Pitch ideas for engaging gameplay story beats to other departments and writers
• Maintain documentation and lore within areas of responsibility and communicate all updates or changes to stakeholders in a timely manner
• Regularly provide clear, candid feedback to others to foster iteration and excellence in our narrative 
• Thoughtfully integrate feedback and critique 
• Research established background and external sources, when necessary

What skills you will use:

• 3 years of experience as a professional writer. If your background is outside of video games, please highlight in your cover letter how your skills and experiences align with and contribute to this role
• Excellent mature writing, creating imaginative scenarios and engaging dialogue
• Understanding of world building and the ability to zoom out to ensure your work aligns with the bigger picture
• Expertise in interactive storytelling, with a strong understanding of narrative design and pacing
• Exceptional communication and idea pitching skills, able to navigate negotiation and compromise with a varied group of stakeholders
• Experience working in a highly collaborative team setting with rapid, frequent iteration
• Flexibility to adapt writing style to match the tone and character voices of a project
• Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed, comfortable prioritizing tasks and taking initiative within areas of responsibility when needed and in times of ambiguity
• Ability to turn around notes and revisions accurately and quickly
• A solid understanding of different game genres and ability to leverage that knowledge to innovate on how how narrative elements integrate with gameplay mechanics

Bonus Skills:

• At least one shipped commercial AAA title
• Experience working on action-adventure games, 3rd person or 1st person
• Experience working in a dynamic, highly collaborative writers room
• Environmental storytelling experience, such as immersive theater or role-playing
• Baseline familiarity with our IPs

What you need to apply:

• Cover Letter: Include a cover letter that highlights your experience, shares why you feel Naughty Dog would be a great fit for you, and provides any relevant background that may not be captured in your resume.
• Resume or CV
• Portfolio: Submit a portfolio link with up to three (3) samples of your narrative work that best reflect your ability to write compelling characters and dialogue. These samples can include both professional and personal projects; while professional work is preferred, we welcome personal projects as well. If submitting a portfolio, please direct us to the samples.

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category. 

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond. 

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