Christophe Balestra, Co-President at Naughty Dog Leaves The Nest
After 15 years in Naughty Dog, Christophe Balestra who served as the co-president of high profile and sought after games, “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us” would be leaving the company. The official website had stated that Mr. Balestra is set to officially step down on April 3rd after his considerably long tenure with Evan Wells taking his place.
In 2002, Mr. Balestra had joined the company as a programmer, wherein he initially took part in producing entries within the “Jak and Daxter” franchise.
While greatly appreciative and honored to have worked with contemporaries from the company, Mr. Balestra disclosed that he’s leaving to delve into personal projects which he hopes to find fulfilling. In a reported statement, he had said that dedication had always been a part of their success at Naughty Dog, and that this dedication is channeled towards finding and putting together the best and most zealous team of programmers, designers, and artists within the industry.
Mr. Balestra sees the studio’s present-day existence as his biggest professional achievement. This, he says, he owes to his partner in the industry, Mr. Evan Wells. Worthy of note, Mr. Wells have been serving as a co-president for 12 years.
Mr. Balestra joins the line of former company employees such as Amy Hennig , writer on the “Uncharted” series, who departed from the studio on 2014, and Bruce Straley who took a hiatus and is reportedly not going back for “The Last of Us 2”.
