Naughty Dog Raises the Stakes with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Naughty Dog, long regarded as Sony’s top flagship studio, has lifted the lid on its next PlayStation 5 project: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Known for squeezing every drop of power from PlayStation hardware, the studio now promises its boldest and most expensive game yet.

In an interview with Variety, creative director Neil Druckmann described the title as “the most ambitious game we’ve ever created,” highlighting the scope of the project and its record-breaking budget for the studio.

A Sci-Fi Spin on Naughty Dog DNA

While official details remain limited, the first teaser trailer introduced protagonist Jordan A. Mun in a cinematic sequence that showcased Naughty Dog’s trademark focus on storytelling and spectacle. Druckmann suggested the game will carry echoes of The Last of Us’ emotional intensity, but reimagined in a sci-fi universe on a far larger scale.

Elaborating on the evolution of the studio, Druckmann also shared that fans will continue to see more added to the studio’s expertise. For Intergalactic, that means a healthy infusion of sci-fi when it comes to the action, something he hopes fans are “going to be pleasantly surprised by”.

Adding to the anticipation, veteran voice actor Troy Baker — best known as Joel in The Last of Us — has been confirmed to join the cast, though his role remains under wraps.

What’s Next for Naughty Dog?

Druckmann had previously revealed that Naughty Dog is working on another unannounced project in parallel, though no information has been disclosed about its genre or scope.

As for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, there is no release window yet. Still, the combination of sci-fi storytelling, PlayStation 5 technology, and Naughty Dog’s pedigree suggests one of the most ambitious console exclusives on the horizon.

With Druckmann promising a scale beyond anything the studio has attempted before, expectations are already soaring.