Creator of The Last of Us Unveils Initial Details About New Game, Intergalactic
Since the announcement of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the upcoming game from Naughty Dog, the studio known for The Last of Us, it’s been a topic of discussion among fans. The game’s title is quite an intriguing mouthful, and the initial trailer primarily set the tone, offering little in terms of story or gameplay specifics. Instead, it seemed to suggest an imaginative retrofuture adventure, brimming with bounty hunters and echoes of ’80s pop-rock music. With limited information available, excitement has only grown, especially after a recent conversation between Naughty Dog lead Neil Druckmann and filmmaker Alex Garland, known for works like Ex Machina.
Druckmann revealed that he’s spent four years developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. He cautioned that while they’ve diligently crafted the mythology underpinning the game, changes may still occur during the development process. Set an impressive 2,000 years into the future, the game unfolds in an alternate timeline that diverged from our own in the 1980s.
The event that created this divergence is also the catalyst for a new religion. Druckmann and his team at Naughty Dog have meticulously detailed the evolution of this religion over two millennia, tracing its origin from the "original prophet" through its transformation and adaptation over time. Interestingly, Garland pointed out the significance of the 2,000-year timeline, noting parallels to other notable prophets from around the same period. It suggests players will eventually encounter the Heretic Prophet within the narrative of the game.
Reflecting on past experiences, Druckmann mentioned that decisions made during the creation of The Last of Us Part II garnered mixed reactions from fans. In a somewhat humorous way, he remarked on exploring themes of faith and religion, which could evoke varied responses and perhaps even less controversy.
Druckmann’s enthusiasm for gaming is evident as he touched upon his admiration for classics like Half-Life 2 and the Monkey Island series—particularly praising Monkey Island 2 for its ending. While he didn’t explicitly connect these influences to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he hinted that the gameplay experience might lean more towards solitary exploration than the intense narratives found in The Last of Us series.
In Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, players will navigate the role of a bounty hunter who crash-lands on a barren planet, the site of an established religious order from 2,000 years in the past. Druckmann elaborated that communications from this planet have mysteriously ceased, and as the bounty hunter seeks answers about the world around her, a sense of confusion will permeate the gameplay. He expressed a desire for players to feel fully immersed in the unfamiliar environment, grappling with its history and its inhabitants.
There seems to be a recurring theme in sci-fi narratives—a penchant for exploring spirituality and religion—mirrored in other games like Starfield. Druckmann appears to be poised to delve into these profound themes while also reveling in a nostalgic future that still embraces physical media like CDs. As fans eagerly await more details, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet promises to explore unique territories in narrative and gameplay, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience in the gaming world.
