Naughty Dog Reveals Second Unannounced Project in Development

Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann has disclosed that the studio is working on a confidential second game alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

In a conversation on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann elaborated on his multifaceted roles at Sony-owned Naughty Dog. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he collaborates with directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, co-writing the narrative with Claire Carré. He did not specify the director for the second project.

“There’s another project in progress 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 switching between these roles; it keeps my work dynamic and engaging. I’m never bored.”

The development stages of both games remain undisclosed. Given that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been announced, it’s likely further along. But what could the second game be?

Several possibilities emerge. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed doubts about its feasibility but noted he has a conclusion in mind. However, his producer role on the mystery project suggests it may not be The Last of Us 3, as he’d likely take a directorial role for such a title.

Another option is a new Uncharted game. No original Uncharted title has launched since 2017’s The Lost Legacy. Could a revival be in the works? Alternatively, this project might be a fresh intellectual property, much like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

It’s possible this second project may never see release or receive 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 titles, amid Sony’s apparent shift away from live service games.

Naughty Dog halted The Last of Us Online in December 2023, citing the need to allocate all resources to post-launch content, which would have hindered future single-player development.

Historically, Naughty Dog has found it difficult to juggle two major projects simultaneously, with one often taking precedence. The studio hasn’t launched a new game since 2020’s The Last of Us 2, releasing only remakes and collections since.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet boasts a high-profile cast, including Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted film as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani from Marvel’s Eternals as Colin Graves. It’s not expected to launch before 2027. At The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, Druckmann told IGN the game is already playable and “really impressive.”

“We’re testing it at the studio, and it’s outstanding,” Druckmann said. “I’m thrilled to share gameplay with the world soon, as we’ve only revealed a small glimpse so far. The game offers much more depth.”