Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet — Naughty Dog Dares to Introduce a Mechanic Never Seen in the Last of Us
Galactic exploration, tailor-made progression, and true freedom of action: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet could represent a major turning point for Naughty Dog. And this time, unlike The Last of Us, the studio seems ready to fully dive into a true RPG dimension.
Since its explosive reveal at The Game Awards 2024, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been igniting the imaginations of sci-fi fans and loyal Naughty Dog followers alike. The California-based studio, long revered for its mastery of linear storytelling, appears set to cross an unexpected frontier: offering players a progression system worthy of the greatest RPGs. A recent unexpected leak has only fueled the hype further.
Image credit: Naughty Dog
A bounty hunter and a galaxy to conquer
In this new adventure, players will step into the shoes of Jordan A. Mun, a lone bounty hunter thrown into a cosmic odyssey where religion shapes the core of the narrative. Gone is the grounded, tightly focused realism of The Last of Us: here, the horizon stretches endlessly. Neil Druckmann promises total immersion, pushing far beyond the cinematic storytelling Naughty Dog is known for. The ambition? To create an open universe teeming with opportunities and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
A leak that launched theories into orbit
Speculation truly took off thanks to the LinkedIn profile of Kristina Gu, former Associate Technical Designer at Naughty Dog. Between 2022 and 2024, she reportedly worked on an ambitious “RPG progression system” for Intergalactic. This revelation points to the studio’s clear desire to reinvent its formula, moving away from strictly linear storytelling that had defined its legacy.
Unlike The Last of Us, where freedom and customization remain limited, Jordan might enjoy a deep and evolving skill tree here. But the revolution doesn’t stop there: Intergalactic also aims to completely reimagine exploration. The project is said to draw inspiration from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (with its vast Madagascar plains) and The Last of Us Part II (with its exploration-friendly Seattle streets). Yet, where The Last of Us remained confined to a tense, guided narrative, Intergalactic seems to aim for a freedom of exploration reminiscent of Elden Ring, allowing each player to shape their own odyssey.
We can therefore imagine an explosive mix of RPG and open-world mechanics, such as:
- a robust skill tree allowing for diverse, unique playstyles
- deep, story-driven side quests to enrich the main narrative
- evolving and customizable loot (weapons, armor, gadgets) to suit every approach
- a dynamic semi-open world encouraging free exploration, with hidden areas and optional activities to discover
Patience before liftoff
Despite this leak sending fans into a frenzy, Jason Schreier reminds us that the game won’t launch before 2027. In the meantime, all we can do is speculate and dream about what Naughty Dog might have in store. One thing’s for sure: this blend of refined storytelling and RPG mechanics could well redefine the studio’s future.
While waiting, we highly recommend checking out the explosive trailer shown at the Game Awards 2024, already available below. Buckle up… the journey is just beginning.
