Naughty Dog's Intergalactic Delayed Beyond 2026, Druckmann Calls It 'Incredible'

As fans eagerly await the next installment in the Witcher series, with *The Witcher 4* slated for a 2027 release, it's clear that Naughty Dog's newly unveiled *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet* will also keep gamers waiting until at least that year. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier confirmed on ResetEra that neither title will see the light of day in 2026, setting the stage for a highly anticipated 2027 gaming landscape.

This delay raises questions about the target platform for *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*. Will it be designed for the PlayStation 5, the upcoming PlayStation 6, or will it span both generations as a cross-gen title? If Naughty Dog opts for a direct jump to the PS6, it would mean the studio has effectively skipped the PS5 generation for new titles, having focused instead on ports, remasters, and remakes like *The Last of Us Part II*, *Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection*, *The Last of Us Part I*, and *The Last of Us Part II Remastered*.

*Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet* was first revealed at The Game Awards 2024, boasting a star-studded cast with Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie playing protagonist Jordan A. Mun, and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel's Eternals as Colin Graves. Fans have been dissecting the trailer to identify other cast members, with a crew photo hinting at more characters to come.

Earlier this month, *The Last of Us* director Neil Druckmann provided further insight into *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*. In a candid interview with Alex Garland, the writer behind the zombie film *28 Days Later*, Druckmann revealed that the game has been in development for four years. He humorously reflected on the polarizing reception of *The Last of Us Part II*, noting that *Intergalactic* aims to explore themes of faith and religion, which he hopes will resonate differently with players.

Set in an alternate historical timeline, *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet* delves into a world where a significant religion has evolved over time. The narrative follows Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter who crash-lands on a mysterious planet where communication has been lost for centuries. Druckmann emphasized the game's focus on isolation and discovery, challenging players to unravel the planet's history to find a way off.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Screenshots

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Considering *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet* is set to release in 2027, and has been in development for four years already, the total development time will reach six years by launch. Despite the lengthy wait, Druckmann remains optimistic. Speaking to IGN at the premiere of *The Last of Us* Season 2, he confirmed that the game is not only playable but also "really good," promising that the gameplay will offer much more depth than what has been shown so far.