Naughty Dog has seemingly confirmed what many fans suspected—Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is not a one-off game but the launchpad for a brand-new franchise. While creative director Neil Druckmann recently mentioned that the title is still very much in development and subject to change, the studio’s latest job listings and language used in promotional material suggest they’re thinking far beyond just one game.
What Is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet?
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is Naughty Dog’s upcoming third-person action-adventure game, set 2,000 years in the future on a mysterious planet called Sempiria. The game follows Jordan A. Mun, a space bounty hunter who finds herself stranded after a mission to dismantle a crime syndicate goes awry.
Visually, the game sports a retrofuturistic aesthetic inspired by the neon-soaked look of the 1980s, which was prominently showcased in its December 2024 announcement trailer. The game is expected to place a strong emphasis on melee combat, something that’s been further confirmed by a recent job listing for a Senior Melee Gameplay Animator.
Naughty Dog Is Thinking Big: A Franchise in the Making
Though official plot details remain under wraps, the announcement trailer already hinted that Intergalactic is more than just a standalone title. Marketed as PlayStation 5’s “newest franchise in development,” the game appears to be the start of something much larger. A job posting by Naughty Dog now reinforces this, subtly but clearly describing the project as part of a franchise-building effort.
Given Naughty Dog’s pedigree—with monumental success from The Last of Us and Uncharted—this move makes sense. The studio has a proven track record of creating deeply immersive worlds that extend beyond gaming, and Intergalactic seems poised to follow suit.
Could There Be a TV Adaptation in the Future?
With HBO’s The Last of Us series becoming a global phenomenon, it’s easy to imagine Intergalactic also receiving the multimedia treatment. Comics, tabletop games, animated series, or even a live-action show could be in the cards if the game resonates with fans.
Naughty Dog has a history of expanding its IPs into other media formats. Should Intergalactic enjoy similar success, we may see a universe that spans multiple platforms, potentially even debuting its sequels on Sony’s next-gen PlayStation 6.
Facing Controversy: A Rocky Start?
Despite the hype, Intergalactic has had a bumpy public reception. Its announcement trailer received a significant number of dislikes on YouTube, with vocal criticism from parts of the community. Detractors have accused the game of being “woke” and overly commercial, citing product placement and diverse character design as points of contention.
While Naughty Dog has not publicly addressed the backlash, it’s worth noting that similar criticisms were leveled at The Last of Us Part II, which went on to become a commercial and critical success, winning multiple Game of the Year awards.
A Future Worth Watching
Whether or not Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will match the cultural impact of The Last of Us remains to be seen. But with a futuristic setting, a strong female lead, and Naughty Dog’s signature storytelling, it has the potential to evolve into one of the defining franchises of the next gaming era.
As development continues and more details emerge, one thing is clear: Intergalactic might just be the beginning of Naughty Dog’s next big universe.
