New Game Secret Was Hard to Keep, Says The Last of Us Developer

Naughty Dog's CEO, Neil Druckmann, has openly discussed the challenges of maintaining secrecy around the studio's latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, amidst fan frustration over a slew of remasters and remakes. Dive deeper to discover Druckmann's insights and learn more about this eagerly anticipated new IP.

Keeping Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet A Secret

Naughty Dog CEO Neil Druckmann admitted that working on their latest endeavor, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, under a veil of secrecy for several years was "really hard." He acknowledged the growing discontent among fans, particularly regarding the frequent remasters and remakes, such as those of The Last of Us, without any fresh IPs in sight.

"It’s really hard to work on these things in secret and silence for so many years," Druckmann revealed in an interview with The New York Times. "And then to see our fans go on social media and say, ‘Enough with the remasters and remakes! Where are your new games and new I.P.s?’"

Despite these concerns, the announcement of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been met with enthusiasm, evidenced by the over 2 million views its announcement trailer garnered on YouTube.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Is Naughty Dog’s Newest

Naughty Dog, renowned for critically acclaimed franchises like Uncharted, Jak & Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us, has introduced a new series to its catalog: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Initially teased in 2022 as a mysterious new project, the game's title was trademarked by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024 and officially unveiled at this year's The Game Awards.

Set in an alternate 1986 where space travel has flourished, Intergalactic invites players to explore the vast expanses of space. Players will embody Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter marooned on the enigmatic planet Sempiria, notorious for its dark history from which no one has ever returned. Jordan's mission is to harness her skills and intelligence to survive and potentially become the first individual in over six centuries to escape the planet.

"The story is quite ambitious, centering on a fictitious religion and what happens when you put your faith in different institutions," Druckmann explained about the game. He also highlighted that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet represents a "return to Naughty Dog’s roots in the action-adventure genre," drawing inspiration from iconic works like the 1988 film Akira and the 1990 anime series Cowboy Bebop.