In a revealing interview on the Press X to Continue podcast, Neil Druckmann, the head of Naughty Dog, disclosed that the studio is currently developing a mysterious second game alongside their announced project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Druckmann, who is actively involved in Intergalactic as a co-writer and supervisor to directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, and narrative director Claire Carré, will take on a more producer-centric role for this yet-to-be-revealed title.
Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about his multifaceted roles at Naughty Dog, 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 suggests a dynamic work environment at the studio, where he can mentor other teams and provide executive oversight.
While Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been announced and is reportedly in a playable state, the development status of the second game remains undisclosed. Speculation abounds regarding the nature of this second project. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously voiced uncertainty about the feasibility of this sequel but mentioned having an ending in mind. Given his producer role on the mystery game, it seems less likely to be The Last of Us 3, as one would expect him to take a more hands-on approach for such a significant title.
Another possibility is a new Uncharted game, considering the last entry, The Lost Legacy, was released in 2017. Alternatively, Naughty Dog might be crafting an entirely new intellectual property, similar to Intergalactic.
However, there's always the chance that this second game might never see the light of day or be officially revealed by Sony. Naughty Dog's recent history has been tumultuous, marked by the cancellation of The Last of Us Online in December 2023 to prioritize single-player experiences amid Sony's apparent shift away from live service games. Historically, Naughty Dog has found it challenging to manage two major projects simultaneously, with one often taking precedence.
As for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, it boasts a notable cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel's Eternals. Despite its promising progress, with Druckmann describing it as "really good" and playable, the game's release is not expected until at least 2027.
