New Game Secrecy Challenged, Says Last of Us Developer

Naughty Dog's CEO, Neil Druckmann, has revealed the challenges of keeping their latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, under wraps amidst fan frustrations over remasters and remakes. Dive into Druckmann's insights and learn more about this exciting new IP!

Keeping Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet A Secret

"Really Hard" To Work In Silence

Neil Druckmann, the CEO of Naughty Dog, admitted that working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in secrecy for several years was "really hard." He acknowledged the growing discontent among fans who were tired of seeing remasters and remakes, particularly of The Last of Us, without any new IPs on the horizon.

"It’s really hard to work on these things in secret and silence for so many years," Druckmann told 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 IPs?’"

Despite these challenges, the reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been a resounding success, garnering over 2 million views on its announcement trailer on YouTube.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Is Naughty Dog’s Newest

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

Intergalactic transports players to an alternate 1986, where space travel has advanced significantly. Players assume the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter stranded on the enigmatic planet Sempiria, known for its mysterious past from which no one has ever returned. Jordan must use her skills and ingenuity to survive and potentially become the first person in over 600 years to return from this foreboding world.

"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 noted that Intergalactic will mark a "return to Naughty Dog’s roots in the action-adventure genre," drawing inspiration from classics like 1988’s Akira and the 1990 anime series Cowboy Bebop.