Naughty Dog's creative director, Neil Druckmann, recently shared intriguing news about the studio's future projects during an interview on the Press X to Continue podcast. In addition to the much-anticipated game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann revealed that Naughty Dog is simultaneously developing another unannounced title. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann is collaborating with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, and co-writing the narrative alongside Claire Carré. However, he remained tight-lipped about the director involved with the second, secret project.
Druckmann described his role in the second game as more of a producer, allowing him to mentor the team and offer executive feedback. "I enjoy all those roles, and the fact I jump between one to the next, it makes my job very exciting and always feeling fresh. I’m never bored," he explained, highlighting the dynamic nature of his work at the Sony-owned studio.
While the development stages of both games remain under wraps, it's speculated that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet might be further along given its public announcement. Speculation abounds about the nature of the second game. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed mixed feelings about continuing the series, yet he has a clear vision for its conclusion. However, his producer role on the mystery project suggests it may not be The Last of Us 3, as one might expect him to take a more hands-on directing role for such a significant sequel.
Another possibility is a new entry in the Uncharted series, absent since 2017's The Lost Legacy. Alternatively, Naughty Dog might be crafting an entirely new intellectual property, following the footsteps of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
It's important to note that not all projects come to fruition. Naughty Dog's recent history includes the cancellation of The Last of Us Online in December 2023, a decision made to focus on single-player experiences amidst Sony's apparent shift away from live service games. Historically, Naughty Dog has found it challenging to juggle two major projects simultaneously, with one often taking precedence.
As for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts a stellar cast including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie as protagonist Jordan A. Mun, and Kumail Nanjiani from Marvel's Eternals as Colin Graves. Despite a release not expected until at least 2027, Druckmann has teased that the game is already playable and "really good." He shared his enthusiasm on the red carpet ahead of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, hinting at the depth and quality of the game beyond what has been revealed so far.
