Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann Reveals New Game in Development Alongside Intergalactic

Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann has confirmed the studio is working on a second, undisclosed game in addition to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

In a recent discussion on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann elaborated on his roles at Sony-owned Naughty Dog. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he collaborates with directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, while co-writing the narrative with Claire Carré. He remained tight-lipped about the director leading the second project.

“We’re developing another game at Naughty Dog where I take on a producer role, mentoring and providing feedback to another team, acting as the executive overseer,” he explained.

“Switching between these roles keeps my work dynamic and engaging. It never feels repetitive.”

The development stage of each game remains unclear. Given Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been announced, it’s likely further along. But what could this second game be?

Several possibilities emerge. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed uncertainty about its feasibility but noted he has a vision for its conclusion. However, his producer role on the mystery game suggests it’s unlikely The Last of Us 3, as he’d likely take a more hands-on director role for that title.

Another possibility is a new Uncharted game. No new Uncharted title has launched since 2017’s The Lost Legacy, making a return plausible. Alternatively, this could be a fresh intellectual property, much like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

It’s worth noting that this second game may never see the light of day or receive a formal reveal from Sony. Naughty Dog has faced challenges recently, including the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game to prioritize single-player projects, reflecting Sony’s apparent shift away from live service titles.

Naughty Dog halted The Last of Us Online in December 2023, citing the need to divert resources from ongoing post-launch support, which would have hindered future single-player game development.

Historically, Naughty Dog has found it difficult to juggle two major projects simultaneously, often prioritizing one over the other. The studio hasn’t released a new game since The Last of Us 2 in 2020, focusing instead on remakes and collections.

Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts a notable cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel’s Eternals as Colin Graves. It’s not expected to launch before 2027. Speaking to IGN at The Last of Us Season 2 premiere red carpet, Druckmann shared that the game is already playable and “exceptional.”

“We’re testing it at the studio, and it’s phenomenal,” Druckmann said. “I’m thrilled to share gameplay with the world soon, as we’ve only revealed a glimpse of what’s to come. The game offers much more depth.”