The Last of Us Director Neil Druckmann Wants Naughty Dog's New Game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet to Make You Feel 'Really Lost and Confused'

Neil Druckmann, director of The Last of Us, has offered new insights into Naughty Dog's upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a conversation with Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later, Druckmann revealed the game has been in development for four years. He candidly discussed the team's approach, acknowledging the polarizing reception to The Last of Us Part II: "We made a game…that got us a lot of hate. A lot of people love it, but a lot of people hate that game," he stated, adding with a laugh, "So let's make a game about faith and religion."

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Screenshots

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, starring Jordan A. Mun as Tati Gabrielle, unfolds in an alternate history featuring a prominent, yet evolved and distorted religion. Gabrielle's character, facing the challenge of becoming the first person in centuries to leave the planet's orbit, must utilize her skills and ingenuity.

Druckmann offered a tantalizing glimpse: "This whole religion takes place on this one planet, and then all communication stops. You're playing a bounty hunter chasing her, and she crash lands. Unlike our previous games where you have allies, you're utterly lost, confused about the planet's history and inhabitants. To escape—no one has been heard from in 600 years—you must unravel what transpired."

Recent news regarding The Last of Us Season 2 confirms the return of spores, absent from Season 1. Showrunners Druckmann and Mazin revealed an escalation in the number and types of infected, along with a change in the infection vector. Druckmann explained, "Season 1 introduced tendrils, a new element. The trailer shows airborne elements." Additionally, actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, discussed the challenges of avoiding online reactions to her performance.