Uncharted developer Naughty Dog "unique," says Microsoft

Sony-owned development studio Naughty Dog, creator of the Uncharted and The Last of Us franchises, is a "special studio" that is "unique" to the gaming industry, Microsoft Xbox executive Phil Spencer has said.

"Naughty Dog is a special studio with an amazing track record," Spencer said on Twitter. "I believe they are unique in our industry."

Spencer's comments came in response to a fan who asked which Microsoft-owned studio would be the equivalent of Naughty Dog now that Bungie has re-gained its independence.

Despite the shower of praise from Spencer about Naughty Dog, don't expect Microsoft to try to copy the Sony-owned company's formula anytime soon.

"Great studios have unique culture. Creating a studio to be 'like' another isn't a goal for us," Spencer added.

Finally, Spencer hammered home the point that it is Microsoft's ambition to have a solid stable of first-party studios, saying cultivating that lineup is "critical to long-term success."

Some of Microsoft's wholly owned studios include 343 Industries (Halo), Lionhead Studios (Fable), Turn 10 Studios (Forza), and Rare Ltd. (Banjo-Kazooie, Kinect Sports).