Two more departures from Naughty Dog

Two Naughty Dog employees have joined Infinity Ward, it has been revealed.

Both Jacob Minkoff and Taylor Kurosaki revealed on Friday that they have left the San Francisco studio and joined the Call of Duty developer.

Minkoff was the Lead Designer on Naughty Dog’s 2013 critically acclaimed survival thriller The Last of Us as well as the story-based DLC Left Behind and Uncharted 3.

He also developed several levels for Uncharted 2.

“I’m back in LA,” Minkoff wrote in an online blog after announcing his departure on his Twitter. “I went couch-surfing in the Peruvian jungle for a bit after finishing up Left Behind, but the jungle had a bit too much malaria for me.

“So, I’ve taken a new position as Design Director at Infinity Ward. Had a great run at Naughty Dog with all the fantastic people there, and I can’t wait to play Uncharted 4 as a fan.”

Kurosaki, who worked as Lead Narrative Designer, will be joining Minkoff at Infinity Ward as a Narrative Director

“Very psyched to share that I’ve joined the phenomenal team at Infinity Ward as the studio’s narrative director,” he announced on his Twitter. “To infinity and beyond!” he added.

Both Kurosaki and Minkoff join a long list of departures from Naughty Dog that began in March.

Amy Hennig, Creative Director at the studio, was the first to leave after spending just over 10 years with the studio and joined EA Games.

When news of her departure broke, sources indicated that Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, writer and director of The Last of Us, had “forced” her out.

Naughty Dog later firmly denied these allegations.

The Director of Uncharted 3, Justin Richmond, was the next to go, joining League of Legends developer Riot Games.

Todd Strashwick, who wasn’t officially an employee of Naughty Dog but was cast in the upcoming Uncharted 4 left shortly thereafter, announcing that the studio decided to re-cast his role.

Following Strashwick, Lead Artist Nate Wells also left the studio and joined Giant Sparrow, developers of The Unfinished Swan. And the most recent departure was Michael Knowland, a Lead Character Artist, who left after more than 2 years employed.

We’ve reached out to Naughty Dog for comment – so far, no word back.