With the wait for The Witcher 4 extending into 2027, it's a similar story for Naughty Dog's recently unveiled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier confirmed on ResetEra that neither The Witcher 4 nor Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will see a release next year, pushing their earliest possible launch to 2027. This timeline raises questions about whether these titles will target the PlayStation 5, the upcoming PlayStation 6, or perhaps serve as cross-gen games.

If Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet opts for a direct release on the PS6, Naughty Dog would essentially bypass the PS5 generation in terms of new game releases. So far, the studio has focused on ports, remasters, and remakes for the current-gen console, including 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.

Naughty Dog introduced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet at The Game Awards 2024, spotlighting a star-studded cast featuring Tati Gabrielle from the Uncharted movie as protagonist Jordan A. Mun, and Kumail Nanjiani of Marvel's Eternals as Colin Graves. Fans have closely analyzed the trailer to speculate on the broader cast, with a single photo hinting at additional crew members.

Earlier this month, The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann offered more insights into Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet during an interview with Alex Garland, the writer behind the zombie movie 28 Days Later. Druckmann revealed that the game has been in development for four years, joking about the backlash from creative decisions in The Last of Us Part II. He mentioned that Intergalactic aims to explore themes less controversial, focusing on faith and religion within an alternate historical timeline where a significant religion has evolved over time.

Druckmann teased that the game's narrative revolves around a bounty hunter, Jordan A. Mun, who crash-lands on a planet that lost communication with the rest of the universe 600 years ago. The game emphasizes a sense of isolation and mystery, with the player navigating a world where understanding its history is key to escaping.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Screenshots

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Considering Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is slated for a 2027 release and has been in development for four years already, it will have been in the works for six years by launch. Despite the long wait, Druckmann assured IGN at The Last of Us Season 2 premiere that the game is not only playable but "really good." He expressed excitement about sharing gameplay with the world, hinting at the depth and complexity beyond the initial trailer.