Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet / Naughty Dog
It looks like Naughty Dog will change the game approach in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in favor of a world that is somewhat similar to Elden Ring.
The insider says that the studio wants to change the traditional linear progression that is familiar from The Last of Us or Uncharted. Developers can draw from inspiration from Elden Ring and player freedom. According to former Game Informer editor Ben Henson, he has heard rumors that Intergalactic «is very much inspired by the game, with a lot of player freedom».
Naughty Dog’s new project announced at The Game Awards 2024, but there had been rumors about it before. Back in 2023, fans speculated that the new game might be similar to Elden Ring or Breath of the Wild, but the project remained a secret at the time. Now Hanson is open about it:
«Elden Ring is what it was compared to back then. But if I would have said, ‘Naughty Dog’s next game is like Elden Ring,’ and then that reveal trailer comes out, we would have been lit on fire», — says the insider in the video MinnMax.
The trailer of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet looks more like cinematic science fiction. One of the shots shows the main character entering a fighting with a huge robot, which is not similar to the style in The Last of Us or Uncharted. But Intergalactic will take from Elden Ring not complexity or combat system, but the structure of the world and the way history is presented.
A journalist, Jin Park recalled an interview with Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann in 2023. Back then, he said that he admired the style of storytelling in Elden Ring.
«I’m more recently intrigued by stuff like Elden Ring that doesn’t rely as much on traditional narrative to tell its story. Some of the best storytelling is in gameplay and moving around the space and understanding a history of the space by just looking at it and examining it. To me, that’s some of the best joy I get out of games», — Druckmann said.
btw in 2023, i talked to Neil Druckmann about how he’s intrigued by Elden Ring. this is absolutely the track
pic.twitter.com/hlaj4L2gdZ https://t.co/8hqMbeFlUG
— Gene Park (@GenePark) March 16, 2025
If Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet really adopts this gameplay style, it could mean a significant change within Naughty Dog. From cinematic linear plots, the studio can move to a non-linear narrative where the player makes up the story by exploring the game world.
Although the studio is known for its story-oriented games, this won’t be the first time it has given players a more open-ended gameplay. The Last of Us Part 2 already had large, semi-open locations. Also, a decade ago, Naughty Dog experimented with a full-fledged open world in the Jak and Daxter series, but these games are closer to platforming classics.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remains a mystery, but the creators have told very little about the plot. The story will focus on loneliness and religion, perhaps even fanatical groups on the forgotten planet Sempiria. The release date is still unknown, but it will definitely be released on PS5.
Source: Games Radar