Neil Druckmann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neil Druckmann
ניל דרוקמן
Druckmann at SXSW in 2025
Born	(1978-12-05) December 5, 1978 (age 46) Tel Aviv, Israel
Alma mater	Carnegie Mellon University
Occupation	Writer creative director designer programmer
Years active	2004–present
Employer	Naughty Dog
Notable work	Uncharted The Last of Us
Title	Studio head head of creative
Signature

Neil Druckmann (Hebrew: ניל דרוקמן; born December 5, 1978) is a talented writer, creative director, designer, and programmer from Israel and America. He is currently the studio head and head of creative at the video game company Naughty Dog. Neil is famous for his amazing work on popular game series like Uncharted and The Last of Us. He even helped create The Last of Us and its TV show.

Neil started his journey in video games as an intern at Naughty Dog. In 2004, he worked as a programmer on games like Jak 3 and Jak X: Combat Racing. Later, he became a designer for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune in 2007. He was a lead game designer for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), which he also helped write. The story of this game was highly praised. Neil has also written comics, including Uncharted: Eye of Indra and the graphic novels A Second Chance at Sarah and The Last of Us: American Dreams.

He led the creation of The Last of Us (2013) and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016) as a writer and creative director. In 2018, he became a vice president at Naughty Dog while directing The Last of Us Part II (2020). He was promoted to co-president in 2020, head of creative in 2023, and studio head in 2024. Neil also helped create and write The Last of Us TV show for HBO, directing some episodes. He is now directing a new game called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Neil has won many awards for his writing and directing, and his games are often seen as some of the best ever made.

Neil's Early Life and Education

Neil Druckmann was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, on December 5, 1978. His family moved to a town called Beit Aryeh in 1981. Growing up, Neil's older brother, Emanuel, introduced him to comic books, video games, and movies. These helped him learn English and sparked his interest in telling stories. He even started writing his own comic books.

In 1989, Neil and his family moved to the United States, settling in Miami, Florida. He first studied criminology at Florida State University (FSU). He wanted to work with the government to help him write thrilling novels. While at FSU, he won a video game competition. He also worked at a muffin shop and a clothing store.

Neil later realized he loved programming. He earned a computer science degree from FSU in 2003. Then, he moved to Pittsburgh to get his master's degree in entertainment technology at Carnegie Mellon University. There, he learned important ideas about game design and teamwork that he would use later in his career.

Neil's Career Journey

Starting Out: Intern and Programmer (2003–2005)

In 2003, Neil went to a big game conference where he met Jason Rubin, a co-founder of Naughty Dog. Neil kept in touch and eventually got an internship at Naughty Dog in May 2004. This was the first time Naughty Dog had an intern!

He started by working on programming for Jak 3 (2004). He also helped with design tasks whenever he could. By August, he was offered a full-time job. He continued programming, even working on the menu screens for Jak X: Combat Racing (2005), which he found very challenging.

Becoming a Designer and Writer (2005–2009)

Neil really wanted to join the design team. He kept asking his boss, Evan Wells, and even worked on design ideas in his free time. Wells saw his talent and gave him a design role for a new Jak and Daxter game.

After a few months, Neil moved to work on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007) as a game designer. He worked closely with Amy Hennig on the story. He then became a lead game designer for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), where he became even more involved in writing the story.

In 2009, Neil wrote and directed a motion comic called Uncharted: Eye of Indra, which showed events before Drake's Fortune. His first graphic novel, A Second Chance at Sarah, came out in 2010. It was about traveling back in time to meet his wife when she was younger. Critics liked his writing and how he developed the characters.

Leading Creative Projects (2010–2018)

Druckmann (right) worked with game director Bruce Straley (left) on The Last of Us, The Last of Us: Left Behind, and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.

After Uncharted 2, Naughty Dog split into two teams. Neil and Bruce Straley were chosen to lead a new game. They decided to create a brand new story instead of another Jak and Daxter game. This new game became The Last of Us. Neil was promoted to creative director about a year into its creation.

For The Last of Us, Neil combined ideas from different works: the gameplay of Ico, the setting of a zombie movie, and a tough main character. He created the characters Joel and Ellie. Neil wanted the game to feel very real. The Last of Us was released on June 14, 2013, and its story was highly praised. It won many awards and is considered one of the best-written video games ever.

Neil also worked on a downloadable story expansion called The Last of Us: Left Behind. This prequel focused on Ellie's friendship with Riley. It was released in February 2014 and also received great reviews. He won more awards for Left Behind, especially for a scene with a kiss between two female characters, which was seen as a big moment for video games. He also co-wrote a comic book series, The Last of Us: American Dreams.

After Amy Hennig left Naughty Dog in 2014, Neil and Bruce Straley became the creative director and game director for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016). Neil co-wrote the story, enjoying the teamwork involved. The game was released on May 10, 2016, and its story was also highly praised, winning awards for its narrative. Neil also helped with the story for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017).

Leading the Studio (2018–Present)

Druckmann (center) on the final day of motion capture production of The Last of Us Part II with Troy Baker (left) and Ashley Johnson (right)

In March 2018, Neil was promoted to vice president of Naughty Dog. He returned as creative director for The Last of Us Part II (2020), co-writing it with Halley Gross. The game explored themes of revenge. Neil wanted players to feel a strong desire for revenge, then understand the real consequences of those actions.

The Last of Us Part II was released on June 19, 2020, and received much praise. Some critics loved its story, while others had different opinions. Neil even had a small voice role in the game. The Last of Us Part II won over 320 Game of the Year awards, setting a new record at the time. Neil and Halley Gross won many awards for their work on the game. It is also considered one of the best-written and greatest video games ever made.

Druckmann created the television adaptation of The Last of Us with Craig Mazin (right).

On December 4, 2020, Neil became co-president of Naughty Dog, working alongside Evan Wells. He was recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the media industry. Neil was also an executive producer for the Uncharted movie (2022).

Neil worked with Craig Mazin to write and produce The Last of Us TV show for HBO. Neil directed an episode in late 2021. He said making the show felt similar to directing games. The series premiered in January 2023 to great reviews, with many calling it the best video game adaptation. Critics praised Neil's directing on the second episode.

In July 2023, Evan Wells announced he would retire, making Neil the studio head and head of creative at Naughty Dog. Neil also worked on a Last of Us-themed haunted house for Halloween Horror Nights in 2023. He received the Andrew Yoon Legend Award in January 2024 for his contributions to gaming.

For the second season of The Last of Us TV show, Neil continued to work on the story. He co-wrote the final two episodes and directed "The Price". This episode premiered in 2025 and was highly praised.

In June 2022, Neil announced he was working on a new game. This game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, was officially announced in December 2024. Neil is leading its development as creative director and co-writer. He also helps produce another unannounced game at Naughty Dog. In July 2025, he stepped back from some TV show duties to focus more on his work at Naughty Dog. Neil's scripts for The Last of Us games are set to be published in a book in December 2025.

Neil's Writing Style

Neil's writing approach is "simple story, complex characters." He doesn't like games with confusing explanations. Instead, he enjoys creating deep and interesting relationships between characters. When he writes, he tries to understand each character's thoughts and feelings. He also tries to avoid common character types to write more "honestly." He believes in keeping things simple, asking himself, "What's the least we have to say or do to show this, and no more?"

Before writing games like The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, Neil and Bruce Straley would plan out the entire story. They would start with the middle of the story, as it's the most important part for gameplay and narrative. A common theme in Neil's stories is characters wanting to change something from their past.

What Influences Neil

Neil looks up to game writer Sam Lake. Some of his favorite video games include Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, Ico, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Resident Evil 4. He also gets ideas from character-focused comics like Preacher and Y: The Last Man. He was inspired by the character-driven stories in old games like King's Quest and Space Quest. When writing The Last of Us, he was influenced by movies like Unforgiven (for its complex main character), No Country for Old Men (for its subtle storytelling), and Gravity (for its simplicity and intensity).

Neil's Personal Life

Neil Druckmann lives in Santa Monica, California, with his children. He became a father while working on The Last of Us, and he says his daughter was a "huge inspiration" for the game. He realized he would "do anything" for her, which helped him write about family bonds. His son was born around 2014. In his free time, Neil plays the guitar and enjoys playing video games like Animal Crossing and Pokémon with his kids.

When he was 16, Neil got a dent in his skull from a golf club accident, which needed many stitches. During the making of The Last of Us Part II, he practiced intermittent fasting, which is even mentioned in one of the game's collectible cards. After the The Last of Us TV series became a success, Neil and Craig Mazin got matching tattoos of Ellie's switchblade.

Neil speaks both Hebrew and English. He is an American citizen and has encouraged people to vote in elections. He has also supported emergency response teams in conflict areas.

Neil's Works

Video Games

Other credits

• 2017 – What Remains of Edith Finch (playtester)
• 2022 – Return to Monkey Island (cameo voice role)

Film and Television

Appearances

• 2013 – Grounded: Making The Last of Us (documentary)
• 2017 – Face Off (season 12, episode 7: "Feral Fungi")
• 2024 – Grounded: Making The Last of Us Part II (documentary)

Books and Comics

Images for kids

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  Druckmann (left) accepting the 2010 Game Developers Choice Award for Best Writing with Josh Scherr (center) and Amy Hennig (right)

See also

In Spanish: Neil Druckmann para niños