New Game Secrecy Challenged Last of Us Developer

Naughty Dog's CEO Neil Druckmann recently opened up about the challenges of keeping their latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, under wraps amid fan frustration over the studio's focus on remasters and remakes. Dive deeper into Druckmann's insights and learn more about the eagerly anticipated new game!

Keeping Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet A Secret

Neil Druckmann, the head of Naughty Dog, revealed the difficulties of developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in secrecy. He admitted that it was "really hard" to work on the game without sharing it with the public, especially as fans voiced their discontent over the frequent remasters and remakes, notably of The Last of Us.

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

Despite these challenges, the reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was 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 blockbuster series like Uncharted, Jak & Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us, has now introduced a fresh IP to their catalog with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Initially teased in 2022, the game's full reveal came at The Game Awards this year, following a trademark filing by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024. Set in an alternate 1986, Intergalactic transports players to the far reaches of space.

In the game, players take on the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter marooned on the enigmatic planet Sempiria. Known for its mysterious past, no one has ever returned from attempting to uncover its secrets. Jordan must leverage her skills and cunning to survive and possibly become the first person in over 600 years 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 further noted that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet represents 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.