Naughty Dog Preserves Secrecy of New Project, Unveiling Imminent

Naughty Dog's CEO, Neil Druckmann, recently admitted the challenges of keeping the studio's latest IP under wraps, especially amidst fan frustration over the numerous remasters and remakes. Read on for his comments and more details on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

The Difficulty of Secrecy

Druckmann revealed to The New York Times that maintaining secrecy for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet over several years was "really hard." He acknowledged the growing fan dissatisfaction with the company's focus on re-releases, stating, "It’s really hard to work on these things in secret and silence for so many years…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 game's reveal at The Game Awards generated significant buzz, with the announcement trailer exceeding 2 million YouTube views.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - Naughty Dog's New Adventure

Known for acclaimed franchises like Uncharted, Jak & Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us, Naughty Dog expands its portfolio with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Initially teased in 2022, the title was trademarked by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024 before its official unveiling.

Set in an alternate 1986 with advanced space travel, players take on the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter stranded on the mysterious planet Sempiria – a place from which no one has ever returned after attempting to uncover its secrets. Jordan must use her skills to survive and potentially become the first to escape Sempiria in over 600 years.

Druckmann described the narrative as "quite ambitious," focusing on a fictional religion and the consequences of faith in various institutions. He also highlighted the game's return to Naughty Dog's action-adventure roots, drawing inspiration from Akira (1988) and Cowboy Bebop (1990).