Sony Apologizes to Neil Druckmann Over Misquoted Interview

Sony has apologized to The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann after an interview with him was found to contain “significant errors and inaccuracies.” The interview, initially published on Sony’s website, included a statement suggesting Druckmann’s next title could “redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming.” Druckmann disputed this claim, stating he never made such comments and shared the full unedited transcript to clarify his intent.

Druckmann took to social media to express his concerns, noting that his words, context, and intent were lost in Sony’s edited version. He provided the full transcript of his answers to illustrate the discrepancies. In response, Sony acknowledged the mistakes, stating on their portal, “We found several significant errors and inaccuracies that don’t represent Neil’s perspective and values.”

Sony’s statement continued, “We apologize to Neil for misrepresenting his words and for any negative impact this interview might have caused him and his team.” They have since removed the interview in coordination with Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

This incident is notable as it’s rare for an interviewee to publicly challenge and publish their unedited words after a corporate edit. Last year, Druckmann indicated that Naughty Dog would reveal its next game closer to release to avoid work-life balance issues from announcing projects too early.