The Last of Us Director Neil Druckmann Wants Naughty Dog's New Game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet to Make You Feel 'Really Lost and Confused'

Neil Druckmann, director of The Last of Us, has offered new insights into Naughty Dog's upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a conversation with Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later, Druckmann discussed the four-year development process, acknowledging the polarizing reception of The Last of Us Part II. He jokingly framed Intergalactic as a deliberate shift towards a less controversial theme: faith and religion.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Screenshots

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, starring Jordan A. Mun as Tati Gabrielle, unfolds in an alternate history featuring a prominent, yet evolved and distorted religion. The game centers on Jordan's character, who must utilize her skills to become the first person in centuries to escape the planet where this religion is central.

Druckmann hinted at the game's core mystery: a planet where all communication ceased, leaving its inhabitants isolated. The player, a bounty hunter pursuing Gabrielle's character, crash-lands on this planet, facing a challenging quest for survival and escape. Unlike previous Naughty Dog games with constant allies, players will experience profound isolation and unravel the planet's history to secure their freedom—a feat made more difficult by the planet's 600-year communication blackout.

Recent news regarding The Last of Us Season 2 confirms the return of spores, a feature absent from Season 1. Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin revealed this development, hinting at an increase in both the number and types of infected, and a shift in the infection's spread mechanism. Druckmann specifically mentioned airborne elements, contrasting with Season 1's tendril-based infection. Additionally, actress Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby, discussed the challenges of navigating online reactions to her role.