Summary
Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann has unveiled some new details about the studio’s next game,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. One of these fresh tidbits of information may also hint atIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’srelease window, which hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.
Formally revealed at The Game Awards 2024,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetis the first new IP from Naughty Dog since 2013’sThe Last of Us. In a dramatic tonal shift from Naughty Dog’s prior work,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetadopts a space-faring sci-fi aestheticand supposedly features the studio’s most ambitious story and deepest gameplay mechanics yet. It’s only been a few months sinceIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetwas announced, but many Naughty Dog fans are clamoring to learn more about it.
A newIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophettrailer is most likely a ways off, but for the time being, Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann has sprinkled some new details about the sci-fi game in a recent Sony Creator to Creator video. Speaking with28 Days Laterwriter Alex Garland, Druckmann confirmed thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophettakes place 2,000 years in the future in an alternate timeline which deviated from this one in the 1980s. Druckmann also acknowledged thestory decisions many fans found controversial inThe Last of Us Part 2, and joked thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetaims to pump the brakes in that regard by focussing on “faith and religion” instead.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet May Look to One of The Best Games Ever Made For Storytelling Inspiration
Speaking of which, Druckmann said thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s story would be centered around the rise of a mysterious religion, the history and timeline of which have apparently warranted “years” of work from Naughty Dog. Unlike the studio’s prior titles,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophetwon’t feature a companion for protagonist Jordan, as Druckmann wants players to feel “lonely” in the game’s universe. Interestingly, Druckmann citedHalf-Life 2and theMonkey Islandgames as his favorite examples of storytelling, specifically adding how the iconic Valve shooter trusts the player to understand its story with minimal hand-holding. This likely implies thatIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s storytelling approachwill be more open-ended than previous Naughty Dog games.
Lastly, Druckmann stated that Naughty Dog still has “a ways to go” forIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, possibly hinting at a somewhat distant release window. Some fans did find clues alluding to a2027 release window inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s reveal trailer, while others continue to be hopeful of a 2026 launch. If Naughty Dog does plan to releaseIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetin 2026, a new trailer should debut later this year, but if not, then fans should strap in for a two-year wait.
