Amy Hennig has been a revolutionary in the video game industry, pioneering new production styles and pushing the boundaries of the medium since she began her career in 1989. Her most iconic works are the PlayStation series “Uncharted” and “The Last Of Us”, but she’s also notable for her work on beloved classics like the “Legacy of Kain” and “Soul Reaver” franchises.
Amy Hennig began her career with Electronic Arts in 1989, working as a designer and producer on the Commodore Amiga title, “Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle.” She also worked as a designer on “The Need for Speed” before joining the newly-formed development studio, Crystal Dynamics, in 1994. Hennig quickly rose up through the ranks, and in 1996 she became the Vice President of Product Development at the studio.
Hennig’s largest contribution to the world of video games is arguably her work on the “Legacy of Kain” and “Soul Reaver” franchises. She served as the lead designer on both games, overseeing their stories, characters, and levels. Both games gained renown due to their intricate story-telling and excellent level design, something that would become a trend in Hennig’s future work.
Hennig left Crystal Dynamics in 2004 to join Naughty Dog, where she would become the creative director for the studio. She worked at Naughty Dog for 10 years, and in that time she created some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed games in the industry. Her work on the “Uncharted” and “The Last Of Us” series, in particular, ensured her place in video game history.
In 2018, Hennig left Naughty Dog to join EA’s new studio, Visceral Games. Though her time there would be brief, she was able to work on the upcoming title, “Forspoken”. Though details are limited, the game is set to be a “story-driven action-adventure game” set in a fantasy world. Hennig is also one of the founders of Skydance Interactive, a new studio focused on creating “immersive, narrative-driven virtual reality experiences.”
Amy Hennig has been a major innovator in the video game industry, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and level design since she entered the industry in 1989. Her work on the “Legacy of Kain”, “Soul Reaver”, “Uncharted”, and “The Last Of Us” series cemented her place in video game history, and her latest venture with Skydance Interactive looks to be just as exciting.