Naughty Dog has confirmed that sci-fi adventure Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will skip major reveals until 2027, as studio head Neil Druckmann calls the unreleased title their most ambitious project yet, drawing high praise from actor Troy Baker ahead of a projected launch window.
Fans eager for a glimpse at Naughty Dog’s next major project will have to wait a little longer. Studio head Neil Druckmann confirmed in a developer update on Naughty Dog’s website that the team needs to cook for just a little bit longer, stating that the studio will remain quiet on the title for the remainder of the year. Originally revealed at The Game Awards 2022, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is set two millennia in the future within an alternate universe where space travel became widespread during the 1980s.
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The narrative follows a bounty hunter named Jordan who becomes trapped on an alien planet while tracking a criminal syndicate, slowly uncovering the world’s hidden history. Despite the long silence since its initial debut trailer, speculation surrounding a potential 2027 launch has intensified as the studio reaches key production milestones. The team is heads down on what is shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious game yet,
studio head Neil Druckmann wrote in an update on Naughty Dog’s website. There’s an electricity around the studio right now as all the pieces come together, and we’re stoked to finally unveil Intergalactic in all its glory. But…we need to cook for just a little bit longer.
Troy Baker Praises Tati Gabrielle and Testing Studio Bounds
While the studio keeps official media under wraps, actor Troy Baker has offered enthusiastic glimpses into the project’s internal progress. Speaking at an Ottawa Comiccon panel in Ontario, Canada, earlier in the month, Baker described the game as an experience that is testing the bounds of what Naughty Dog is capable of, telling attendees that their minds would be blown by what is coming.
“You guys are going to have your minds blown. You are not ready. You are not ready. It’s so good.”
Troy Baker, actor
Baker drew direct parallels between the casting of lead actress Tati Gabrielle and the studio’s past successes, marveling at how writer and director Neil Druckmann consistently discovers generational talent. He noted that Gabrielle’s performance as Jordan feels like a spiritual successor to past studio milestones, specifically referencing Ashley Johnson’s casting as Ellie in The Last of Us.
“I feel Uncharted, I feel The Last of Us, I feel something new. They are testing the bounds of what that studio is capable of. Everything that I’ve seen, they are delivering, and it’s going to be incredible.”
Troy Baker, actor
Performance Capture Milestones and Production Timeline
The enthusiasm from the cast aligns with steady progress behind the scenes. Naughty Dog recently wrapped shooting performance capture for the new intellectual property just last month. Industry watchers have noted that The Last of Us Part 2 reached a similar production milestone roughly one year before its 2020 launch, following a 2019 wrap on comparable motion-capture work.
That trajectory feeds rumors that the PlayStation developer is shooting for a 2027 launch, even as the studio no-shows State of Plays and goes on seven years without a new game release. Druckmann previously stepped away from HBO’s The Last of Us show to pour his focus entirely into directing the ambitious sci-fi universe.
What to Expect When Naughty Dog Returns in 2027
Alongside the announcement of a 2027 showcase window, the team faces sky-high expectations after going basically an entire console generation without releasing a new game.
Whether the project meets its rumored release window remains entirely unconfirmed by official studio scheduling. For now, fans waiting through the long gap between major updates must rely on the studio's promise that they are working incredibly hard to build something worthy of their prolonged patience, with Druckmann noting that the team does not take their continued support for granted.