Naughty Dog's CEO, Neil Druckmann, reveals the challenges of keeping their new IP under wraps, particularly amidst fan frustration over remasters and remakes. Discover his thoughts and learn more about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet below.
Keeping Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Secret: A Difficult Task
Neil Druckmann, Naughty Dog's CEO, confessed the significant difficulty of maintaining secrecy surrounding their new title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, for years. He acknowledged the fan sentiment, noting the growing impatience with remasters and remakes, especially concerning The Last of Us, while yearning for new IPs.
"Keeping this project under wraps for so long was incredibly challenging," Druckmann told The New York Times. "And seeing our fans express their desire for new games and IPs on social media—'Enough with the remasters!'—was definitely something we were aware of."
Despite these concerns, the game's reveal proved overwhelmingly successful, garnering over 2 million YouTube views for its launch trailer.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet: Naughty Dog's Latest Adventure
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 as an upcoming project, the title was trademarked by Sony Interactive Entertainment in February 2024 and formally 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 mysterious planet Sempiria—a place from which no one has ever returned after attempting to uncover its secrets. Jordan must use her skills to survive and become the first to escape Sempiria in over 600 years.
Druckmann described the narrative as ambitious, focusing on a fictional religion and the consequences of faith in various institutions. He also emphasized the game's return to Naughty Dog's action-adventure roots, drawing inspiration from 1988's Akira and the 1990s anime series Cowboy Bebop.
