Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann Reveals New Game in Development

Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has confirmed that besides Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the team is developing a second, unannounced title.

During an appearance on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann outlined his current responsibilities at the Sony-owned studio. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he collaborates with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau and is co-writing the narrative with director Claire Carré. However, he did not specify which director is leading the mystery project.

"There is another game in development at Naughty Dog where I'm serving more as a producer—mentoring the team, offering feedback, and acting as an executive presence," he remarked.

"I genuinely enjoy each of these roles. Shifting between them keeps my work engaging and ensures no two days feel the same. I never get bored."

It remains uncertain how far along each project is in development. Since Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been officially announced, it’s reasonable to assume it’s further advanced. But what exactly is the second game?

A few possibilities come to mind. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed doubts about returning to the series, though he has confirmed having an ending idea in mind. Based on his description of taking a producer role, however, it seems unlikely he would take a backseat for a sequel as significant as The Last of Us 3.

Alternatively, it could be a new Uncharted adventure. The franchise hasn’t seen a brand-new mainline release since 2017's The Lost Legacy. Could this be the long-awaited revival? Or perhaps the unannounced title is an entirely new IP, similar to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

It's worth keeping in mind that the second project could still be canceled or never officially revealed. Naughty Dog has faced challenges recently, highlighted by the cancellation of The Last of Us Online to refocus on single-player titles—a decision that reflects Sony’s broader shift away from live service games.

Naughty Dog officially halted development on The Last of Us Online in December 2023. The team explained that supporting the multiplayer title long-term would have required dedicating all studio resources, significantly hampering its ability to produce new single-player games.

Historically, Naughty Dog has found it difficult to manage two major projects simultaneously, with one typically taking priority. The studio hasn't launched a completely new game since The Last of Us Part II in 2020, releasing only remasters and compilations since then.

As for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts an impressive voice cast including Tati Gabrielle (Uncharted movie) as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani (Marvel's Eternals) as Colin Graves. A release isn't anticipated before 2027. Though the wait is long, Druckmann shared with IGN at The Last of Us Season 2 premiere that the game is not only playable now but already impressive.

"I can tell you we're playing it internally, and it’s incredible," Druckmann teased. "It’s truly excellent. I can’t wait to share gameplay with everyone because what we've shown is barely scratching the surface. The full game goes much, much deeper than what you've seen."