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, screenwriter of 28 Days Later, Druckmann discussed the four-year development process, acknowledging the polarizing reception of The Last of Us Part II. He jokingly framed Intergalactic as a deliberate shift towards a less controversial theme: 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, evolved religion. The game centers on Jordan's character, who must utilize her skills to potentially become the first person in centuries to leave the planet's orbit.

Druckmann hinted at the game's narrative: the religion is confined to a single planet, where communication mysteriously ceases. The player controls a bounty hunter pursuing Gabrielle's character, who crash-lands on this isolated world. Unlike previous Naughty Dog titles, the player will experience a profound sense of isolation and uncertainty, tasked with uncovering the planet's history and the means to escape—a feat complicated by the planet's centuries-long silence.

Recent news regarding The Last of Us Season 2 reveals the return of spores, a feature absent from Season 1. Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed this at SXSW 2025, highlighting an escalation in the number and types of infected, along with a shift in the infection's spread mechanism. The trailer hints at airborne transmission. Additionally, actress Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby, discussed the challenges of avoiding online reactions to her performance.