Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has confirmed the developer is secretly working on a second unannounced project alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

During an appearance on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann discussed his creative involvement at Sony's first-party studio. While serving as co-writer with narrative director Claire Carré on Intergalactic alongside game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, he revealed having a producer-style role on a separate mystery title.

"There's another game in development at Naughty Dog where I'm functioning more as a producer," he shared. "I get to mentor that team, provide feedback, and operate as the executive presence in the room."

"I find all these roles fulfilling," Druckmann continued. "Moving between different projects keeps my work exciting and constantly fresh - I never experience creative stagnation."

The development stages of both projects remain undisclosed. While Intergalactic has been officially announced, potentially suggesting more advanced progress, the nature of the second project spawns speculation.

Several likely possibilities emerge. Could this signal The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously expressed uncertainty about committing to another sequel despite having conceptualized an ending. However, his hands-off producer role suggests otherwise - one would expect his directorial involvement for such a flagship title.

Alternatively, could this mark Uncharted's return? The franchise has lain dormant since 2017's The Lost Legacy spin-off. Or might Naughty Dog be incubating another new IP alongside Intergalactic?

The shadow project's fate remains uncertain - Sony may ultimately choose not to greenlight or publicly reveal it. Naughty Dog has weathered significant turbulence recently, notably canceling The Last of Us Online in December 2023 to refocus on single-player experiences amid Sony's broader live-service reassessment.

Developing multiple AAA titles simultaneously has historically challenged Naughty Dog, with one project typically dominating resources. The studio hasn't launched an original game since 2020's The Last of Us Part II, instead releasing remakes and remastered collections.

Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the sci-fi adventure boasts an impressive cast including Uncharted film star Tati Gabrielle as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Eternals' Kumail Nanjiani as Colin Graves. With a projected 2027 release at earliest, Druckmann assures fans the wait will prove worthwhile, confirming the game is already fully playable internally.

"We're actively playing it in-house and it's phenomenal," Druckmann told IGN during The Last of Us Season 2 premiere events. "I'm eager to eventually showcase gameplay - our initial reveal only scratched the surface. The experience runs profoundly deeper."