2014 report of Amy Hennig being “forced out” of Naughty Dog was nothing but “forced gossip” – VG247

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New information has come to light that an IGN report from 2014 stating Amy Hennig was “forced out” of Naughty Dog by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley was nothing but an unsubstantiated rumor.

The report from 2014 said that trusted sources close to Naughty Dog stated Hennig was “forced out” by The Last of Us creative leads Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. A couple of days later, the report was refuted by Naughty Dog.

According to Mitch Dyer, who previously worked for IGN and wrote the article in question, states he was forced by the site’s editors at the time (Steve Butts and Tal Blevins) to include “forced gossip” in the report.

Whether or not there was any internal conflict at Naughty Dog isn’t confirmed, but this particular story was unsubstantiated.

Dyer even states that when the article was condemned by Sony, the editors “were silent” and never offered to go “to bat” when he came under fire for the report. The editors have since left IGN and have their own consulting firm.

Dyer is now a writer at EA’s Motive Montreal studio, which is working on Star Wars: Squadrons set for release on October 2.

Here’s the series of tweets from Dyer which bring the situation to light, and the response from Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann.

They forced an unproven claim onto https://t.co/bXvrM2OKzN with my name on it, against my will, to “protect their relationship with Sony.”

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When Sony justifiably condemned our story, Steve and Tal were SILENT. They never went to bat for me for a second.

— Mitch Dyer (@MitchyD) June 23, 2020

These are the guys who would later publish a story on https://t.co/bXvrM2OKzN stating THE LAST GUARDIAN IS CANCELED. When we confronted them about publishing an unsubstantiated (hilariously bullshit) story without consulting the news team, they said “you should have chased this.”

— Mitch Dyer (@MitchyD) June 23, 2020

Wow, dude. Not gonna lie… I was angry for a long time about this. I appreciate you putting the truth out there. Please know I don’t hold a grudge and wish you the best. Sorry for what you went through. https://t.co/NEX1qv5akK

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) June 23, 2020

Let me actually end on: IGN fucking rules. I adore those people and that place, and my friends there are SO MUCH HAPPIER now than they were when I was there.

Progress has been made as they rooted out the rot inside. Change is possible.

Never let these motherfuckers win.

— Mitch Dyer (@MitchyD) June 23, 2020

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