Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann has disclosed that the studio is developing a secret second game alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
In a conversation on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann shared insights into his roles at Sony-owned Naughty Dog. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he collaborates with directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau while co-writing with narrative director Claire Carré. He did not reveal the director for the second project.
“There’s another game in development at Naughty Dog where I take on a producer role, mentoring and overseeing the team, providing feedback, and acting as an executive,” he explained.
“I enjoy all those roles, and switching between them keeps my work dynamic and engaging. It never feels repetitive.”
The development stage of each game remains unclear. With Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet already announced, it’s likely further along. But what could the second game be?
Several possibilities stand out. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed doubts about its feasibility but has an ending in mind. However, his producer role on the mystery game suggests it may not be The Last of Us 3, as he’d likely take a more hands-on director role for that title.
Another possibility is a new Uncharted game. The series hasn’t seen a fresh release since 2017’s The Lost Legacy. Could a revival be in the works? Alternatively, the second game could be an entirely new intellectual property, much like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
It’s worth noting that the second game may never see release or an official reveal from Sony. Naughty Dog has faced challenges recently, including the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game to prioritize single-player projects, amid Sony’s apparent shift away from live service titles.
Naughty Dog halted The Last of Us Online in December 2023, citing the need to focus resources on post-launch content for years, which would have hindered future single-player game development.
Historically, Naughty Dog has struggled to juggle two major projects simultaneously, with one often taking priority. The studio hasn’t launched a new game since 2020’s The Last of Us 2, releasing only remakes and collections since then.
Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts a high-profile cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted film as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel’s Eternals as Colin Graves. It’s not expected to launch before 2027. Speaking to IGN on the red carpet before The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, Druckmann shared that the game is already playable and “really impressive.”
“We’re playing it at the office, and it’s fantastic,” Druckmann said. “I’m thrilled to soon share gameplay with the world. What we’ve shown so far is just the surface—the game goes much deeper.”
