Neil Druckmann, the creative force behind Naughty Dog, has revealed an exciting development: the studio is currently working on a second, unannounced game alongside the much-anticipated Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a recent interview on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann shared insights into his multifaceted roles at the Sony-owned studio, detailing his involvement in both projects.
For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Druckmann collaborates with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, and co-writes the narrative with Claire Carré. However, he remains tight-lipped about the director of the second game. Instead, Druckmann described his role on this mysterious project as more of a producer, where he mentors the team and provides executive feedback.
Druckmann expressed his enthusiasm for the variety in his roles, stating, "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." This dynamic approach keeps his work invigorating and diverse.
While Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been officially announced and is expected to release no earlier than 2027, the stage of production for both games remains undisclosed. Druckmann teased that Intergalactic is already playable and praised its quality, saying, "I will say we are playing it at the office and it's incredible... It's really good. I'm so excited to finally put gameplay out into the world and show people about it, because we just showed you the very, very, very tip of the iceberg. The game goes pretty deep beyond that."
Speculation abounds regarding the identity of the second game. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has been ambiguous about the possibility of a third installment, mentioning that he has an ending in mind, but his producer role on the new project suggests it might not be the long-awaited sequel. Another possibility is a new entry in the Uncharted series, absent since 2017's The Lost Legacy. Alternatively, it could be an entirely new intellectual property, echoing the innovative spirit of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
It's important to temper expectations, as there's always the chance this second game may never see the light of day or be officially revealed by Sony. Naughty Dog's recent history has been marked by significant shifts, including the cancellation of The Last of Us Online in December 2023, a move that allowed the studio to refocus on single-player experiences amidst Sony's broader pullback from live service games.
Historically, Naughty Dog has faced challenges in developing two major titles simultaneously, often prioritizing one over the other. Since the release of The Last of Us 2 in 2020, the studio has primarily focused on remakes and collections, underscoring the complexity of managing multiple large-scale projects.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet boasts a stellar cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie and Kumail Nanjiani from Marvel's Eternals. As fans eagerly await more details on this and the mysterious second game, Naughty Dog continues to push the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay in the gaming industry.
