Naughty Dog Officially Leaves ‘The Last of Us’ Behind With New Sci-Fi Game Update
Naughty Dog has confirmed that principal filming for the cinematic sequences of its next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, has wrapped, marking a fresh step forward for the studio's first major original title in years. The announcement, made via the developer's X account, signals a clear move away from its established franchises, The Last of Us and Uncharted, as the studio pushes into new science-fiction territory following the acclaimed success of The Last of Us Part II.
No release date or window has yet been given, but the completion of cinematic filming is traditionally a positive indicator of a game's progress. The Last of Us Part II wrapped its own cinematic shoot roughly a year before launching in 2020, suggesting Intergalactic could plausibly arrive by late next year, though Naughty Dog has described the project as its most ambitious yet, which may extend the timeline towards a 2028 release. The update arrives amid a packed period for major game launches, including Blood of the Dawnwalker, Marvel's Wolverine and Grand Theft Auto 6.
- Naughty Dog wraps cinematic filming for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
- No release date confirmed; 2027–2028 seen as plausible window
- Marks studio's shift away from The Last of Us and Uncharted
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Naughty Dog is a US game studio known for story-led action games, especially The Last of Us and Uncharted. Those series helped establish its reputation, but Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is a new science-fiction story rather than a continuation of either franchise.
The game is being made for PlayStation, with cinematic scenes filmed using actors’ performances. These scenes help shape a game’s story, but finishing their filming does not mean the whole game is complete. Intergalactic matters as a major new direction for a studio whose recent work has largely centred on familiar series.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wrapping the cinematic filming suggests Intergalactic is progressing and gives Naughty Dog a chance to build a new world rather than rely on familiar franchises. A new science-fiction project could broaden the studio’s creative range and offer players a fresh experience, while the lack of a release date leaves room to prioritise quality over a rushed launch.
The case against
Moving away from The Last of Us and Uncharted carries a risk: those series have established audiences, while a new property must earn players’ interest from scratch. The filming update reveals little about gameplay or a launch date, and the project’s ambition could mean a long wait; releasing amid several high-profile games may also make it harder to attract attention.