Naughty Dog Calls Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet a ‘Franchise’

Summary

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet seems to be the first release in a potential new franchise by Naughty Dog.
The game will focus on melee combat in a retrofuturistic world set 2,000 years in the future.
Naughty Dog’s acknowledgment hints at potential sequels and other media adaptations for Intergalactic.

Naughty Dog has seemingly confirmed that its upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, will be the first release in a franchise. While Neil Druckmann recently stated that the game is still a work in progress and its final form remains uncertain, the studio appears confident that more Intergalactic games or media will follow.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is expected to be a third-person action-adventure game with an emphasis on melee combat. Set 2,000 years in the future, the game features a retrofuturistic aesthetic inspired by the ’80s, as seen in its announcement trailer. The story follows Jordan A. Mun, a space bounty hunter, on a mission to take down a crime syndicate, which ultimately leaves her stranded on the mysterious planet Sempiria.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s Biggest Plot Mystery Might Already Be Solved

While very few details have been revealed about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s plot in general, its greatest mystery may already be solved.

While details on Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remain scarce, a new job listing seems to confirm that the game is being developed as a franchise rather than a standalone title. This won’t come as a surprise to observant fans, as the game’s December 2024 announcement trailer on YouTube already referred to it as PlayStation 5’s “newest franchise in development.” However, Naughty Dog’s official acknowledgment reinforces the likelihood of future content, possibly including a sequel on Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 6. For those curious, the job listing in question is for a senior melee gameplay animator—further evidence that the game will have a strong focus on melee combat.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Might Just Be the Beginning

Intergalactic being labeled a franchise is significant for Naughty Dog fans, especially given the studio’s recent success with The Last of Us series on HBO. This raises the possibility of non-game media, such as a live-action adaptation or TV series. However, considering Naughty Dog’s track record of critically acclaimed games, the more likely scenario is that the studio is already laying the groundwork for future Intergalactic installments, seemingly anticipating its potential success.

Looking at one of Naughty Dog’s biggest franchises, The Last of Us, could offer insight into what Intergalactic might become. The Last of Us has expanded beyond video gaming with a tabletop game, a comic book, a live show, and a TV adaptation. If Intergalactic achieves similar success, it could follow an identical path into various media. However, that depends on whether it can overcome the controversies that followed its announcement. For those unaware, Intergalactic’s trailer received a wave of dislikes on YouTube, with criticism ranging from accusations of it being a “woke” game to complaints about excessive product placement.