History of Neil Druckmann in Timeline
Neil Druckmann is an Israeli-American writer, creative director, designer, and programmer, currently serving as the studio head and head of creative at Naughty Dog. He gained prominence for his contributions to the Uncharted franchise, but is best known as the co-creator of The Last of Us video game series and its subsequent television adaptation. Druckmann's work is widely recognized in the gaming industry for its narrative depth and character development.
1968: Inspiration from Night of the Living Dead
In 1968, the movie Night of the Living Dead was a great inspiration for the setting of the concept for the game The Last of Us
December 5, 1978: Neil Druckmann Born
On December 5, 1978, Neil Druckmann was born in Israel. He is best known for his work on the game franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us.
1981: Moved to Beit Aryeh
In 1981, Neil Druckmann's family moved from Ramat Aviv to Beit Aryeh, a settlement in the West Bank.
1989: Moved to the United States
In 1989, Neil Druckmann moved to the United States with his family, attending school in Miami, Florida.
1991: Inspiration from Sin City
From 1991 to 2000, the comic book series Sin City was a great inspiration for the lead character of the concept for the game The Last of Us
1991: Inspiration from Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
In 1991, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, was released. Neil Druckmann cites this game as one of his favorite video games and a source of inspiration.
1992: Inspiration from Unforgiven
In 1992, the film Unforgiven was released. Neil Druckmann was inspired by the film's ability to make audiences support the protagonist despite his immorality.
1995: Inspiration from Preacher Comics
From 1995 to 2000, the comic series Preacher was published. Neil Druckmann cites this series as a source of inspiration for character-focused storytelling.
2000: Inspiration from Preacher Comics
From 1995 to 2000, the comic series Preacher was published. Neil Druckmann cites this series as a source of inspiration for character-focused storytelling.
2000: Witnessing Footage of the Ramallah Lynching
In 2000, Neil Druckmann watched footage of the Ramallah lynching, which led to violent thoughts and later feelings of guilt. This event would later inspire themes in The Last of Us Part II.
2001: Inspiration from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
In 2001, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was released. Neil Druckmann cites this game as one of his favorite video games and a source of inspiration.
2001: Concept for The Last of Us
In 2001, Neil Druckmann created the concept that would become The Last of Us, merging gameplay elements and settings from different works.
2001: Won Conker's Bad Fur Day multiplayer competition
In 2001, as a student at Florida State University, Neil Druckmann won a Conker's Bad Fur Day multiplayer competition organized by Nintendo and Playboy.
July 2002: Graphics research assistant at FSU's Visualization Lab
In July 2002, Neil Druckmann began working as a graphics research assistant at FSU's Visualization Lab.
December 2002: Started Computer Science Degree
In December 2002, Neil Druckmann began a Bachelor of Computer Science degree with a minor in math.
2002: Inspiration from Y: The Last Man Comics
From 2002 to 2008, the comic series Y: The Last Man was published. Neil Druckmann cites this series as a source of inspiration for character-focused storytelling.
August 2003: Began Master's Degree
In August 2003, Neil Druckmann began his master's degree in entertainment technology at Carnegie Mellon University.
2003: Attended GDC and Met Jason Rubin
In 2003, Neil Druckmann attended the Game Developers Conference (GDC), where he met Naughty Dog co-founder Jason Rubin.
April 2004: Developed Dikki Painguin in: TKO for the Third Reich
In April 2004, Neil Druckmann and Allan Blomquist developed the game Dikki Painguin in: TKO for the Third Reich for the Nintendo Entertainment System as students at Carnegie Mellon.
May 2004: Joined Naughty Dog as Intern
Around May 2004, Neil Druckmann joined Naughty Dog as a programming intern, working on localization tools and gameplay programming on Jak 3.
2004: Programmer on Jak 3
In 2004, Neil Druckmann became a programmer on Jak 3, marking his first video game work at Naughty Dog.
2005: Earned Master's Degree and Programmed Jak X
In 2005, Neil Druckmann earned his master's degree through his work at Naughty Dog and programmed the menu screens on Jak X: Combat Racing.
2005: Programmer on Jak X: Combat Racing
In 2005, Neil Druckmann worked as a programmer on Jak X: Combat Racing.
2005: Inspiration from Resident Evil 4
In 2005, Resident Evil 4 was released. Neil Druckmann cites this game as one of his favorite video games and a source of inspiration.
2007: Designer for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
In 2007, Neil Druckmann became a designer for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.
2007: Inspiration from No Country for Old Men
In 2007, the film No Country for Old Men was released. Neil Druckmann was inspired by the film's subtle and sparse execution, forcing audience engagement.
2008: Inspiration from Y: The Last Man Comics
From 2002 to 2008, the comic series Y: The Last Man was published. Neil Druckmann cites this series as a source of inspiration for character-focused storytelling.
2009: Lead Game Designer on Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In 2009, Neil Druckmann became more involved with the writing and worked on Uncharted 2: Among Thieves as a lead game designer.
2009: Worked on Uncharted: Eye of Indra
In 2009, Neil Druckmann worked as writer and director on the motion comic Uncharted: Eye of Indra.
February 2010: Published A Second Chance at Sarah
In February 2010, Neil Druckmann's first graphic novel, A Second Chance at Sarah, was published by Ape Entertainment.
2010: Graphic Novel: A Second Chance at Sarah
In 2010, Neil Druckmann wrote the graphic novel A Second Chance at Sarah.
2011: Lead Development on The Last of Us
In 2011, Neil Druckmann was chosen to co-lead development with Bruce Straley on a new game, which became The Last of Us.
April 2013: First issue of The Last of Us: American Dreams Comic Book
In April 2013, the first issue of the four-issue comic book miniseries The Last of Us: American Dreams, co-written by Neil Druckmann, was released.
June 14, 2013: The Last of Us Release
The game The Last of Us was released on June 14, 2013, receiving praise for Neil Druckmann's work on the story and earning him numerous awards.
2013: Co-led development of The Last of Us
In 2013, Neil Druckmann co-led the development of The Last of Us as writer and creative director.
2013: Graphic Novel: The Last of Us: American Dreams
In 2013, Neil Druckmann wrote the graphic novel The Last of Us: American Dreams.
2013: Inspiration from Gravity
In 2013, the film Gravity was released. Neil Druckmann was inspired by the film's simplicity and intensity.
February 2014: Released The Last of Us: Left Behind
In February 2014, The Last of Us: Left Behind, a downloadable expansion pack focusing on Ellie's relationship with her friend Riley, was released to critical acclaim. Neil Druckmann earned additional accolades for his work, including a second BAFTA and Writers Guild of America Award.
March 2014: Working on Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Following Amy Hennig's departure from Naughty Dog in March 2014, Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley began working on Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
March 2014: Announced The Last of Us Film Adaptation
In March 2014, Sony announced that Neil Druckmann was writing a film adaptation of The Last of Us.
2014: Birth of Druckmann's Son
Around 2014, Neil Druckmann's son was born. He was around the same age as Sam in the fifth episode of The Last of Us when it aired in 2023, making its events more emotional for Druckmann.
2014: Presenting Ambassador Award to Anita Sarkeesian
In 2014, Neil Druckmann presented the Ambassador Award to Anita Sarkeesian at the Game Developers Choice Awards and regularly advocated her projects. He is a regular advocate of gender equality in video games.
January 2015: Second Draft of The Last of Us Film Script
By January 2015, Neil Druckmann had written the second draft of the script for The Last of Us film adaptation.
2015: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Record
In 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt set the record for most Game of the Year awards, a record that The Last of Us Part II would later break.
April 2016: The Last of Us Film in Development Hell
In April 2016, Neil Druckmann stated that The Last of Us film had entered development hell.
May 10, 2016: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Release
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was released on May 10, 2016, to praise for its story. It was awarded Best Narrative at The Game Awards 2016 and Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing at the 69th Writers Guild of America Awards.
2016: Co-led development of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
In 2016, Neil Druckmann co-led the development of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End as writer and creative director.
2016: Voting and Promoting Voting in the 2016 Presidential Election
In 2016, Neil Druckmann voted and promoted voting in the presidential election.
August 2017: Guest Judge on Face Off
In August 2017, Neil Druckmann was featured as a guest judge on an episode of Face Off.
February 2018: Druckmann Doesn't Want The Last of Us Movie Made
In February 2018, Neil Druckmann stated "I don't want that movie to be made." regarding The Last of Us film adaptation.
March 2018: Promotion to Vice President at Naughty Dog
In March 2018, Neil Druckmann was promoted to vice president of Naughty Dog.
2018: Promoting Voting in the 2018 Midterm Elections
In 2018, Neil Druckmann promoted voting in the midterm elections.
2018: Promoted to Vice President of Naughty Dog
In 2018, Neil Druckmann was promoted to vice president of Naughty Dog.
2019: Buying a Property in Santa Monica
In 2019, Neil Druckmann bought a property in Santa Monica, California. His house was styled by designer Kim Gordon.
June 19, 2020: Release of The Last of Us Part II
On June 19, 2020, The Last of Us Part II was released to critical acclaim, though it also received audience backlash and online hate towards Neil Druckmann. The game went on to win over 320 Game of the Year awards.
December 4, 2020: Promotion to Co-President of Naughty Dog
On December 4, 2020, Neil Druckmann was promoted to co-president of Naughty Dog, serving alongside Wells.
December 2020: Inclusion on the Variety500 List
In December 2020, Neil Druckmann was included on the Variety500 list, recognizing him as one of the most influential business leaders in the media industry.
2020: Development of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Begins
Development of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet began in 2020, with Neil Druckmann leading development.
2020: Co-President of Naughty Dog
In 2020, Neil Druckmann became the co-president of Naughty Dog.
2020: Creative Director for The Last of Us Part II
In 2020, Neil Druckmann returned as creative director for The Last of Us Part II, co-writing the game alongside Halley Gross. The game's themes were inspired by Druckmann's experiences growing up in Israel.
2020: Voting and Promoting Voting in the 2020 Elections
In 2020, Neil Druckmann voted and promoted voting in the primary and presidential elections.
November 2021: Directing an Episode of The Last of Us HBO Series
In October and November 2021, Neil Druckmann directed an episode of The Last of Us television adaptation for HBO. He noted that directing the series reinforced his experience in directing games.
December 2021: Presentation at The Game Awards
In December 2021, Neil Druckmann presented Game of the Year at The Game Awards and also had a cameo voice appearance in Return to Monkey Island.
June 2022: Donation to NARAL Pro-Choice America
Following the decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in June 2022, Neil Druckmann donated US$10,000 to NARAL Pro-Choice America.
June 2022: Revealing Work on a New Game
In June 2022, Neil Druckmann revealed at Summer Game Fest that he was working on a new game and assembling a writers' room to be structured more like a TV show.
2022: Elden Ring Surpasses The Last of Us Part II Award Record
In 2022, Elden Ring surpassed The Last of Us Part II record of most Game of the Year awards.
2022: Cameo Voice Appearance
In 2022, Neil Druckmann had a cameo voice appearance in Return to Monkey Island.
2022: Executive Producer on Uncharted Film
In 2022, Neil Druckmann served as an executive producer on the film Uncharted and promoted it on Sony's Creator to Creator series.
January 2023: Premiere of The Last of Us HBO Series
In January 2023, The Last of Us television series premiered to positive reviews, with several critics considering it the best live-action adaptation of a video game. Druckmann was a writer and executive producer on the series.
February 2023: Craig Mazin gets Ellie's switchblade tattoo
In February 2023, Craig Mazin got a tattoo of Ellie's switchblade, as agreed with Neil Druckmann if the series of The Last of Us was successful.
April 2023: Writing About Hidetaka Miyazaki for Time's List
In April 2023, Neil Druckmann wrote about Hidetaka Miyazaki for Time's list of 100 influential people, praising Miyazaki's Elden Ring.
October 2023: Involvement with Halloween Horror Nights
From September to October 2023, Neil Druckmann worked on The Last of Us-themed haunted house with Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando. He collaborated with Universal, rewriting the script to fit the characters' voices.
October 2023: Donations to Israeli and Palestinian Emergency Response Teams
In October 2023, during the Gaza war, Neil Druckmann donated US$2,500 each to both Israeli and Palestinian emergency response teams.
2023: Head of Creative
In 2023, Neil Druckmann became the head of creative at Naughty Dog.
2023: Emotional Impact of The Last of Us Episode Due to Son's Age
In 2023, Neil Druckmann's son was around the same age as Sam in the fifth episode of The Last of Us when it aired, making its events more emotional for Druckmann.
January 2024: Receiving the Andrew Yoon Legend Award
In January 2024, Neil Druckmann received the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 13th Annual New York Game Awards.
May 2024: Controversy over Sony Interview
In May 2024, Sony published an interview with Neil Druckmann as part of its corporate strategy event. Some quotes attributed to Druckmann were criticized by developers, journalists, and gamers, leading to Sony removing the interview.
July 2024: Directing The Price episode of The Last of Us Season 2
From around May to July 2024, Neil Druckmann directed "The Price," an episode of the second season of The Last of Us. The episode was praised by reviewers.
December 2024: Announcement of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
In December 2024, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a game being written and directed by Neil Druckmann, was announced at The Game Awards.
2024: Studio Head
In 2024, Neil Druckmann became the studio head at Naughty Dog.
2025: Premiere of The Last of Us Season 2
In 2025, the second season of The Last of Us premiered.
2025: Stepping Away From The Last of Us TV adaptation
In July 2025, Neil Druckmann stepped away from creative duties on the television adaptation of The Last of Us to focus on his duties at Naughty Dog, including work on Intergalactic.
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