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

Naughty Dog's CEO Neil Druckmann has revealed the challenges of maintaining secrecy around their latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, amid fan frustrations with the studio's focus on remasters and remakes. Dive into Druckmann's insights and discover more about this eagerly anticipated new game!

Keeping Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet A Secret

"Really Hard" To Work In Silence

Naughty Dog CEO Neil Druckmann admitted that keeping their newest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, under wraps was "really hard." The silence was particularly challenging given the growing fanbase frustration over the studio's recent output of remasters and remakes, notably of The Last of Us, with no new IPs in sight.

"It’s really hard to work on these things in secret and silence for so many years," Druckmann confessed to 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 the challenges and initial concerns, the reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been met with enthusiasm, evidenced by over 2 million views on its announcement trailer on YouTube.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Is Naughty Dog’s Newest

Naughty Dog, renowned for iconic series like Uncharted, Jak & Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us, has now expanded its portfolio with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Initially teased in 2022, the game's title was trademarked by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024, and it was officially unveiled at this year's The Game Awards. Set in an alternate 1986 where space travel is commonplace, Intergalactic invites players into the vast expanse of space.

In this game, players assume the role of Jordan A. Mun, a skilled bounty hunter stranded on the mysterious planet Sempiria. Known for its enigmatic history from which no one has returned, Sempiria poses a daunting challenge. Jordan must leverage her skills and cunning to survive and possibly become the first 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 shared about the game. He also highlighted that Intergalactic will mark a "return to Naughty Dog’s roots in the action-adventure genre," drawing inspiration from classics like the 1988 film Akira and the 1990 anime series Cowboy Bebop.