Key Points
- Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was not featured in the recent PlayStation State of Play presentation.
- The absence has sparked concern among fans, particularly given the studio's last new release was in 2020.
- Intergalactic, revealed in 2024, is described as Naughty Dog's most ambitious and expensive game to date.
- Other anticipated Sony titles, including projects from Bend Studios and Guerrilla, were also missing from the showcase.
The recent PlayStation State of Play presentation offered glimpses of several first-party titles, but a significant omission has left many players questioning the status of Naughty Dog's next major project. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi action-adventure game revealed in 2024, was conspicuously absent from the broadcast.
This marks the latest in a string of absences for Naughty Dog's new franchise. The studio's last new release was The Last of Us Part II in June 2020. Since then, reports indicate a focus on Intergalactic, which began development in 2020. Creative director Neil Druckmann has previously described the game as the studio's most ambitious and expensive undertaking, starring Tati Gabrielle as a bounty hunter equipped with a plasma sword.
Fans have voiced disappointment and worry on social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter. Many had anticipated an update, especially given rumors of a demo and the game's reveal over a year ago. The State of Play did, however, feature updates on Insomniac Games' Marvel's Wolverine, Sony Santa Monica's God of War Laufey, and Firesprite's Until Dawn 2. However, the lack of any news on Intergalactic, alongside other titles like Haven Studios' Fairgame$ and Guerrilla's Horizon Hunters Gathering, has fueled speculation among the player base.
This situation arises as PlayStation's first-party game sales have reportedly seen a decline over the past five years, with Sony releasing fewer titles overall. Some observers suggest this trend is linked to the challenges of live-service games and a general slowdown in new project announcements. Naughty Dog's history of releasing major titles late in a console generation has also been noted by fans, leading to speculation about potential delays, possibly into the next console cycle.
While Neil Druckmann has previously indicated that Intergalactic requires substantial development effort, the absence from a major PlayStation showcase suggests the game may not be ready for public presentation. The focus remains on other major titles, indicating there may not be immediate pressure to rush Naughty Dog's highly anticipated new IP.