What We Know So Far About Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
The Premise, Lore and Setting
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is an upcoming action-adventure game from Naughty Dog, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, currently in development for PlayStation 5. It takes place thousands of years in the future in an alternate timeline that diverged in the 1980s. The protagonist is Jordan A. Mun (voiced by Tati Gabrielle), a bounty hunter who ends up stranded on the remote planet Sempiria, which has been cut off from outside contact for over six centuries. Her mission is to pursue the criminal syndicate known as the “Five Aces,” but becoming stranded forces her to uncover the mysteries of the planet, its people, and the religion that has grown in isolation.
Religion, faith, and isolation are core themes. Thousands of years of lore have been created for the religion of Sempiria—how it began, how it has evolved, how its original teachings may have been twisted in isolation. Jordan’s journey is as much about physical escape as it is about understanding what people believe, how those beliefs shape society, and how one’s personal faith is tested.
Gameplay Mechanics & Design Aspirations
Specific gameplay mechanics are mostly speculative at this point, but Naughty Dog has offered some hints. The game will be third-person, with a strong cinematic feel, drawing on the studio’s prior experience with Uncharted and The Last of Us. There is talk of “deepest gameplay yet,” wide linear layouts, possibly more exploration and freedom than strictly linear narrative paths. Jordan will likely face robotic enemies—some blade-wielding ones—and environmental danger.
There are hints of RPG elements: progression, examining environments to discover lore, possibly player choice in how to engage threats, though Naughty Dog has not confirmed fully open world or full RPG structure. Fear of being too constrained by grounded realism is noted, but the direction leans more sci-fi and ambitious.
Development, Team and Production
Development began in 2020, after The Last of Us Part II. The team includes Naughty Dog leadership: Neil Druckmann (Creative Director / Writer), Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau (Game Directors), and Claire Carré as Narrative Director. The soundtrack is composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. More than 250 people are reportedly involved in the project.
Druckmann has called Intergalactic the studio’s most ambitious, most expansive, and possibly its most expensive project to date. While he acknowledges they’re still defining many elements, the intention is to push beyond past titles in terms of scale, narrative complexity, and gameplay depth.
Release Date, Platforms, and State of Play Rumors
So far, no official release date has been announced. Naughty Dog and Sony confirm it as a PlayStation 5 exclusive at least initially. There is speculation from gaming media and rumor sources that a new trailer or gameplay reveal may be featured at an upcoming PlayStation State of Play event (possibly in late September), though those are unconfirmed.
Because development started in 2020, and given the scale of what’s being attempted, it’s assumed that the game will not arrive in 2025. The hints suggest more likely a 2026 or 2027 timeframe.
What We Don’t Yet Know & Expectations
There is no public information yet on how long the story will be, how much side-content or optional exploration will exist, or whether there will be multiplayer or DLC plans. Specific gameplay systems—skill trees, level design, combat depth, or whether Jordan will have companions or be mostly alone—are not fully detailed. Performance targets (e.g. frame rates, resolution, PS5 Pro enhancements) are likewise unannounced.
Early Hopes & Expectations
From what we do know, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has many of the ingredients for something special. Combining a bold sci-fi setting with religious and philosophical themes, and pairing that with Naughty Dog’s pedigree for cinematic storytelling, it promises to push boundaries for what fans expect. The shift toward more expansive layouts, possible RPG mechanics, and isolation in its story suggests the studio is aiming for a different, more ambitious lens than its past titles.
However, the lack of a release date, scarcity of gameplay information, and the high ambition make it a high-risk, high-reward project. If Naughty Dog can deliver the depth, polish, and scale they seem to be promising, this could mark the beginning of a new franchise. But given the unknowns, staying realistic is warranted.
