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 surrounding Naughty Dog's latest project, 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, at the expense of new IP.

The Burden of Silence

Druckmann openly admitted to the New York Times the significant strain of keeping development under wraps for years. He acknowledged the online outcry from fans demanding new games and original IPs, stating, "It’s really hard to work on these things in secret and silence for so many years...And then to see our fans go on social media and say, ‘Enough with the remasters and remakes! Where are your new games and new I.P.s?’" 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, a place from which no explorer has ever returned. Jordan must leverage her skills to survive and potentially become the first to escape Sempiria's grasp 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 highlighted the game's return to Naughty Dog's action-adventure roots, drawing inspiration from Akira (1988) and Cowboy Bebop (1990).