The Last of Us Developer Says It Was Hard To Keep Its New Game A Secret

Naughty Dog's New IP: The Challenge of Secrecy and Fan Expectations

Maintaining secrecy around Naughty Dog's latest title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, proved exceptionally challenging for CEO Neil Druckmann. This difficulty was amplified by fan frustration over the studio's focus on remasters and remakes, particularly of The Last of Us.

The Burden of Silence

Druckmann confessed to the New York Times that the years spent developing Intergalactic in secrecy were "really hard." He acknowledged the social media outcry from fans demanding new IPs and original games, rather than continued re-releases. Despite these concerns, the game's reveal trailer garnered over 2 million YouTube views, demonstrating significant public interest.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - A New Chapter for Naughty Dog

Known for acclaimed franchises like Uncharted, Jak & Daxter, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us, Naughty Dog expands its portfolio with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Initially teased in 2022, the title was trademarked by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024 and officially unveiled at The Game Awards.

Set in an alternate 1986 with advanced space travel, players assume the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter stranded on the enigmatic planet Sempiria. Its perilous history has claimed countless lives, making Jordan's survival and potential escape a monumental challenge.

Druckmann described the narrative as ambitious, revolving around a fictional religion and the consequences of faith in various institutions. He also highlighted the game's return to Naughty Dog's action-adventure roots, drawing inspiration from Akira (1988) and Cowboy Bebop (1990).