Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann Confirms Second Unannounced Game in Development

Naughty Dog's chief, Neil Druckmann, recently unveiled that the studio is actively developing a mysterious second game alongside the already announced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. During a revealing interview on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann shared insights into his diverse roles within the Sony-owned studio. He highlighted his involvement in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, where he collaborates with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, and co-writes with narrative director Claire Carré. However, he kept the identity of the director for the second project under wraps.

Druckmann expressed enthusiasm about his producer role on the undisclosed game, saying, "There’s another game that’s being worked on at Naughty Dog where I am more of a producer role and I get to mentor and watch this other team and give feedback and be like the executive in the room." He enjoys the variety in his responsibilities, which keeps his job dynamic and engaging: "I enjoy all those roles, and the fact I jump between one to the next, it makes my job very exciting and always feeling fresh. I’m never bored."

While the development stage of both games remains undisclosed, it's speculated that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is more advanced, given its public announcement. Speculation abounds about the nature of the second game. Could it be The Last of Us 3? Druckmann has previously voiced mixed feelings about its development but mentioned having a clear vision for its conclusion. However, his producer role on the mystery project suggests it might not be The Last of Us 3, as fans might expect him to take a more hands-on directorial role for such a significant title.

Another possibility is a new entry in the Uncharted series, which has been dormant since 2017's The Lost Legacy. Alternatively, Naughty Dog could be crafting an entirely new intellectual property, similar to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

It's important to note that the second game's fate is uncertain. Naughty Dog has faced challenges recently, including the cancellation of The Last of Us Online in December 2023 to refocus on single-player experiences. Historically, the studio has found it challenging to juggle two major projects simultaneously, often prioritizing one over the other. Since the release of The Last of Us 2 in 2020, the studio has mainly produced remakes and collections.

Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the game boasts a notable cast, including Tati Gabrielle as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Kumail Nanjiani as Colin Graves. Although not expected to launch until 2027, Druckmann shared his excitement about the game's progress at IGN's coverage of The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, stating, "I will say we are playing it at the office and it's incredible. It's really good. I'm so excited to finally put gameplay out into the world and show people about it, because we just showed you the very, very, very tip on the iceberg. The game goes pretty deep beyond that."