In a highly anticipated show filled with reveals for The Witcher 4, Borderlands 4, an Okami sequel, and an astonishing amount of Elden Ring content, the pressure was on to make a big impact at this year's Game Awards. And for Naughty Dog, that meant debuting a brand new game that wasn't a Last of Us remaster. Enter Intergalactic: Heretic Prophet.
Naughty Dog's Sci-Fi Adventure Takes Center Stage
Game Details and Setting
We've learned that Naughty Dog has been working on a sci-fi game for quite some time. Reports suggest that development began in 2020, yet surprisingly little has leaked about it until now. This first trailer isn't just a cinematic; it showcases the game in real-time. The game stars Uncharted actress Tati Gabrielle as Jordan. Set thousands of years in the future, Intergalactic places players in the role of Jordan A. Mun, a fearless bounty hunter stranded on Sempiria, a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark centuries ago. Jordan must rely on all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit.We catch a brief glimpse of one of Jordan's targets, who is clearly actor Kumail Nanjiani. There's a bit of a wobbly connection, and Jordan has an eyepatch. While I'm about 40% sure that Sigourney Weaver is on the other end of that call with Jordan.Gameplay and Combat
In just a few seconds of actual combat, it's clear that this is a significant departure from Naughty Dog's typical cover shooters like Uncharted and The Last of Us. Instead, we see a molten sword leaping melee fight against a mech, which is a far cry from their usual gameplay. Of course, there are guns too, but it seems Naughty Dog wants to take the action part of their gameplay to a whole new level. This new approach shows their willingness to explore different genres and push the boundaries of what they can do.Release Timeline and Expectations
There is no release year announced for Intergalactic, which is quite surprising given that it has been in development for four years already. It's likely that we won't see it released until at least 2026, and with the unpredictable nature of game development schedules, that might even be optimistic. However, Naughty Dog has a proven track record of delivering exceptional games. Even if Intergalactic isn't based on one of their beloved franchises, the goal is clearly to recreate the magic that Uncharted and The Last of Us brought to the gaming industry when they first burst onto the scene and became instant industry icons. We can only hope that they find similar success with Intergalactic, and this debut trailer has certainly piqued our interest.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.READ MORE