Naughty Dog's 'Intergalactic': Is 2028 the New 'Soon™'? A Wizard's Guess on Its Release Date!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Naughty Dog's highly anticipated *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet* might not land until 2028 or later, according to an off-hand comment from cast member Kumail Nanjiani, sparking a wizard's worth of speculation about the ambitious title's development timeline for the famously patient studio.
Alright, cobbers, gather 'round the digital campfire, because it looks like Naughty Dog's next epic, *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*, might be taking its sweet time cooking in the cosmic cauldron. You know how Naughty Dog likes to brew their masterpieces like a wizard meticulously crafting a particularly potent (and lengthy) enchantment? Well, buckle up, because if recent whispers from a certain Kumail Nanjiani are anything to go by, we might be waiting until 2028. Or later. Bloody hell.
So, the scoop, as unearthed by Game Rant, comes from a podcast appearance where Nanjiani apparently claimed a game he'd recently worked on would be coming out "in a couple years." Now, he didn't *name* the project, mind you, but considering *Intergalactic* is the freshest Naughty Dog title on his resume, it's a pretty safe bet he was chatting about our highly anticipated space adventure, eh? If his crystal ball is clear, that pushes our launch window right into 2028 from the article's publication date of May 2026.
It's been six years since *The Last of Us Part 2* dropped, which, in gaming terms, is like a small geological era. Naughty Dog's got that undeniable pedigree – *Jak and Daxter*, *Uncharted*, *The Last of Us* – they simply don't rush things. Their games are less fast-food, more Michelin-star tasting menu, meticulously prepared over years. Given the increasing complexity of modern game development, an extended wait for a Naughty Dog title, while painful for the eager gamer, isn't exactly a shocker.
We first caught a glimpse of *Intergalactic* with that mind-bending trailer at the 2024 Game Awards, which closed out the show with a flourish, naturally. Director Neil Druckmann has been hyping it up as "incredible," and Tati Gabrielle, who plays the main character Jordan, even hinted it's a "different side of Naughty Dog." Couple that with rumours floating around about *Elden Ring*-inspired non-linear exploration – a significant departure from their typically linear, narrative-driven epics – and suddenly, 2028 doesn't sound so far-fetched. Changing the Naughty Dog formula up is like trying to teach a dragon new magic tricks; it's going to take some time, isn't it?
Of course, Nanjiani could be tossing us a red herring, or just making an educated guess, or maybe he's simply *really* bad at estimating time (we've all been there after a particularly epic gaming session, eh?). There are even theories kicking about that it could land in 2027. Until Naughty Dog themselves officially pull back the curtain, it's all just digital tea leaves and speculative stargazing.
Ultimately, whether it's 2027, 2028, or later, we're all just itching to jump into whatever reality-bending adventure Naughty Dog is cooking up next. What do you reckon, mates? Is 2028 a fair cop for this intergalactic journey, or are we being a bit too pessimistic? Only time, and perhaps a Summer Game Fest trailer, will truly tell. This cosmic musing was inspired by a report from LB Beistad at Game Rant.
Tags: Naughty Dog, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Game Release Date, PlayStation, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant