Naughty Dog's chief, Neil Druckmann, has shared exciting news about a secret, unannounced game in development alongside the already announced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a recent interview on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann shed light on his varied roles within the Sony-owned studio. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he 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.
Druckmann described his role in the mysterious second project as more of a producer, where he mentors and guides the team, offering feedback and executive oversight. "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," he enthused.
While the development stages of both games remain undisclosed, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is expected to be further along, given its public announcement. Speculation abounds about the nature of the second game. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has voiced uncertainty about continuing this series, yet he has an ending in mind. However, his producer role on the new project suggests it might not be The Last of Us 3, as one would expect him to take a more hands-on, director role for such a significant title.
Another possibility is a new Uncharted game, considering the last new installment was The Lost Legacy in 2017. Alternatively, Naughty Dog might be crafting a completely new intellectual property, similar to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
It's important to note that the second game's future is uncertain. Naughty Dog has faced challenges in recent years, including the cancellation of The Last of Us Online in December 2023 to focus on single-player experiences amidst a broader shift away from live service titles at Sony. Historically, the studio has found it challenging to juggle two major projects simultaneously, often prioritizing one over the other. The last entirely new game from Naughty Dog was The Last of Us 2 in 2020, with subsequent releases being remakes and collections.
Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts a star-studded cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel's Eternals as Colin Graves. Although not expected to release until 2027 at the earliest, Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about the game's progress, stating it's playable and "really good." He teased that the game goes far beyond what has been shown so far, promising a deep and engaging experience.
Neil Druckmann says Naughty Dog is working on a second game. Photo by Rich Polk/Deadline via Getty Images.
