Five years have passed since Naughty Dog released its last major game, "The Last of Us Part 2". Since then, the two The Last of Usgames have been re-released several times, both for different generations of consoles and for PC. A major multiplayer project, "The Last of Us Online", was due to be released in the meantime, but was canceled in 2023. set. Now, with "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet", a new, ambitious project is in the starting blocks - but how soon will it really be released?
A late journey into space
Naughty Dog's A-Team, led by Neil Druckmann, has been working on "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" since 2020. This is the studio's first new IP since The Last of Us (2013) and tells a retro-future sci-fi story with a top-class cast of gaming and TV stars. Druckmann himself once declared that he would no longer announce games long before their release - which is why many assumed that "Intergalactic" could be released in 2026.
But according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, this will probably not be the case. In an article on ResetEra explained the journalist said that the game will definitely not be released in 2026. This could mean that a whole seven years lie between "The Last of Us Part 2" and "Intergalactic". Should it not even be released until 2027 or later, there is another question: Will it even be released for the PS5 or is it already a title for the PS6?
Another example of premature announcements?
The announcement of "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" could do more harm than good. After the The Last of Us-After its multiplayer project failed, Naughty Dog had to deliver something to strengthen its position in the current console generation. But such an early reveal can be problematic.
On the one hand, this creates a long period of speculation in which unrealistic expectations are fueled. You can already see it now, with wild speculation about the possible release date. On the other hand, the studio itself admits that the game could still change significantly in the course of development. What is being advertised today as a great sci-fi epic could end up being a completely different game - which could alienate fans who are looking forward to certain content.
What do we know about the game?
Only a few details about "Intergalactic" are known so far. The story revolves around a bounty hunter who becomes stranded on an abandoned planet whose once religious society has been plunged into darkness. The protagonist's task: to find out what happened in order to find a way to escape. The premise sounds exciting and promises an original story, as you would expect from Naughty Dog.
But when can we really expect it? At the moment, it's not even certain whether we'll get to see gameplay footage this year. If the game isn't released until 2027 or later, it could be overshadowed by completely different games by then. Naughty Dog therefore needs to think carefully about how it manages expectations in the coming years. After all, an early announcement alone does not ensure that a game will ultimately be a success.
How do you see it?
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