Summary
Rumor has it thatNaughty Dogis working on a new PlayStation 5 game that isn’tIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Naughty Dog’s journey with PlayStation started with the first fewCrash Bandicootgames before moving on to theJak and Daxterseries on the PlayStation 2. From there,Naughty Dog’s work would get progressively grittier with theUnchartedandThe Last of Usfranchises.
During The Game Awards 2024 livestream back in December, Naughty Dog announced its latest project withIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi action-adventure game that combines ’80s neon aesthetics with futuristic space travel. Naughty Dog has stated thatIntergalacticis meant to be the startof a new franchise, though the studio admits there is still much work to be done before the game is ready to launch. In fact, it is believed thatIntergalacticwon’t be released before 2027, with the Game Awards trailer supposedly hinting at this launch window.
In the meantime, entertainment insider DanielRPK thinks that Naughty Dog has another PS5 project in the works alongsideIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a Patreon post (viaThe Game Post), DanielRPK claims that this mystery game is being helmed by Shaun Escayg, director of the2017 spin-offUncharted: The Lost LegacyandMarvel’s Avengers, and has been in development for three years already. DanielRPK shared nothing else about this project, and his claims should be met with healthy skepticism until more concrete evidence surfaces.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Director is Reportedly Working on New Naughty Dog Game
However, this rumor does line up with Shaun Escayg’s return to Naughty Dog after a brief stint at Crystal Dynamics (where he worked onthe aforementionedMarvel’s Avengers). Not everyone at Naughty Dog is working onIntergalactic: The Heretic Propheteither, and the developer has hinted at having more than one PS5 project in development in the past.
As for what this second project could be, Shaun Escayg’s connections tobothUnchartedandThe Last of Uscould be a sign that it is a new installment in either of Naughty Dog’s major franchises. It could also be a completely new IP, just likeIntergalactic. Of course, gamers won’t know whatNaughty Dogis making until the developer announces it, and that is assuming that the recent claims of a second game are indeed valid.
