Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has confirmed the developer is secretly working on a second unannounced title alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
During a conversation on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann detailed his current responsibilities at Sony-owned Naughty Dog. While collaborating with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet — which he's co-writing with narrative director Claire Carré — Druckmann remained tight-lipped about who's leading the mystery second project.
"We're developing another title at Naughty Dog where I'm primarily in a producer capacity," Druckmann explained. "It's been rewarding mentoring this team, providing feedback, and serving as the executive presence during development."
"I genuinely appreciate shifting between these different roles — it keeps my work dynamic and engaging. There's never a dull moment."
The production status of both games remains uncertain. While Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been officially announced and presumably further along, speculation continues about the nature of the second project.
Several possibilities emerge: Could this be The Last of Us 3? Although Druckmann previously mentioned having conceptualized an ending for Ellie's story, his current producer role suggests this mystery project may not be Naughty Dog's acclaimed survival franchise. Alternatively, could we see a revival of Uncharted after The Lost Legacy's 2017 release? Or might Naughty Dog introduce another original IP like Intergalactic?
It's important to acknowledge this second project might never see release or official announcement from Sony. Naughty Dog has weathered significant changes recently, notably canceling The Last of Us multiplayer project to concentrate on single-player experiences — reflecting Sony's broader strategic shift away from live-service titles.
Development ceased on The Last of Us Online in December 2023, as maintaining post-launch content would have monopolized resources, compromising future single-player developments.
The studio historically faces challenges managing dual AAA projects simultaneously, typically prioritizing one major title. Since 2020's The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog has released only remasters and collections.
Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the ambitious sci-fi RPG boasts an impressive cast including Uncharted movie's Tati Gabrielle as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Marvel's Kumail Nanjiani as Colin Graves. Despite its earliest possible release being 2027, Druckmann revealed to IGN during The Last of Us Season 2 premiere that current playtests show remarkable promise.
"We're actively playing the game internally, and the experience is phenomenal," Druckmann teased. "What we've revealed publicly barely scratches the surface. The gameplay systems extend far deeper than anything we've shown."
