Intergalactic Eyes 2027 Reveal as Last of Us Slate Grows

Naughty Dog has finally given fans something concrete to hold onto after months of speculation, and the most interesting part of the latest The Last of Us Day update is not actually about The Last of Us. The studio confirmed that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will remain quiet for the rest of 2026 before a full reveal in 2027, and that two new projects set within The Last of Us universe are in very early development.

Naughty Dog says its team is currently focused on what it describes as its most ambitious game yet, with Intergalactic taking shape behind the scenes. The studio says it still needs more time before showing the game properly, setting up 2027 as the year when the public will finally get a much closer look at Jordan's sci-fi adventure.

The studio shared a new image with the announcement, but it's clearly holding back the bigger presentation.

That doesn't necessarily mean the game has slipped into 2028, despite how some fans may interpret the timing. A 2027 reveal and a 2027 launch can still work, particularly if Naughty Dog chooses to reveal the game during one of the major PlayStation showcases early or late in the year.

The current expectation is that Intergalactic could arrive sometime in the second half of 2027. The latest update doesn't directly confirm a release window, so that remains speculation, but the statement also doesn't say the game has been delayed.

A September or October launch remains possible, while a November release could also make sense if the title becomes one of the games positioned around the transition to Sony’s next console generation. That generation shift is an important part of the discussion.

Naughty Dog has already released major titles during periods when PlayStation hardware generations overlap, and Intergalactic could potentially follow a similar path. One possibility is a PS5 launch followed relatively soon by a version for the next PlayStation console. Another is that the game arrives as a cross-generation release from the start.

Neither scenario has been confirmed, but the timing leaves room for either approach.

An insider previously reported that 2027 was the target being discussed, although plans can change during a long production. In fact, a target mentioned years before launch is naturally more vulnerable to changes than a date announced close to release.

The new statement does not provide enough information to determine whether Naughty Dog is still working toward a specific month. Still, it does establish that a larger presentation is coming next year. PlayStation could hold a State of Play around February, followed by another major presentation later in the spring.

Intergalactic could receive a major gameplay-focused showcase during either event, or Naughty Dog could wait until closer to release. What makes Intergalactic particularly interesting is how different it could be from Naughty Dog’s established style.

The studio has spent years building story-driven games around grounded characters and familiar settings, while this project is a science-fiction adventure featuring Jordan. Reports and previous discussion have also pointed toward a combat system that could represent a noticeable change for the developer.

Modern big-budget action games can share plenty of design ideas, and comparisons with other major titles are inevitable.

Even if Intergalactic borrows recognizable elements from games outside Naughty Dog, those ideas could still feel unusual coming from the studio. That is part of what makes the eventual gameplay reveal so important. Another detail that has drawn attention is the lead character's performance.

Troy Baker has previously spoken highly of the character, with the role being compared to Ellie as a kind of spiritual successor. That comparison is difficult to judge before seeing the finished performance, but it does raise expectations for the character and the actor playing her.

While Intergalactic dominates the first half of the update, the other announcement may have longer-term implications. Naughty Dog confirmed that two new The Last of Us projects are in the earliest stages of development. The studio says both will expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II, while emphasizing it would return to this world only if there were meaningful stories worth telling.

That wording leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The projects could move beyond Joel and Ellie, focusing on other characters and parts of the setting, or one could eventually become The Last of Us Part III. The announcement doesn't name either project, and Naughty Dog hasn't confirmed that Part III is one of them.

Still, describing the projects as expanding the canon beyond the first two games naturally invites speculation about what comes next.

The phrase also matters because it suggests both projects will add something beyond the two main games rather than simply revisiting the same material. One could be a direct continuation, while another could explore a different character or story within the same universe. A smaller project or multiplayer concept also remains possible because the studio hasn't provided enough detail to rule it out.

Even so, the clearest reading is that Naughty Dog is working on two gaming projects connected to The Last of Us. The announcement was made as part of the franchise's official celebration, and the studio framed the update around its future projects. That does not formally rule out television, comics, or other adaptations being part of the wider plans.

Still, there is no reason to assume that the two projects mentioned here are anything other than games. That distinction matters because Naughty Dog has spent years dealing with expectations around new releases. The studio’s recent output has included remasters and expanded versions of existing games, while major new projects have taken long periods to emerge.

The latest announcement at least confirms that additional The Last of Us development is happening, rather than leaving the future entirely to hints and speculation. The multiplayer history also adds another layer. Naughty Dog previously had Factions in development before moving away from the project, so the possibility of a smaller multiplayer experience hasn't disappeared entirely.

The studio hasn't said either of the newly announced projects is multiplayer.

Still, a narrower-scope project could theoretically arrive sooner than another huge single-player production. That brings up the biggest issue with the announcement: development timelines. Naughty Dog says these projects are in very early stages, which means they could still be several years away.

The studio's large productions have historically required long development cycles, and calling these projects early doesn't suggest imminent releases. At the same time, not every project has to follow the same schedule. A smaller spin-off or multiplayer game could potentially move faster than a full-scale sequel.

If Naughty Dog can create a broader slate of projects with different production sizes, it could eventually avoid spacing out every release by five or six years. That would also allow the studio to maintain momentum while its biggest games remain in production.

For now, the immediate focus remains Intergalactic. Naughty Dog is asking for more patience before showing the full game, with 2027 positioned as the point when the silence ends. The update doesn't provide a release date, gameplay footage, or confirmation of a PS6 version, but it does narrow the next major step: a proper reveal next year.

The Last of Us announcement is similarly limited, but it is still meaningful.

Two projects are confirmed to be in development, both intended to expand the canon beyond the first two games. Whether that eventually includes Part III, a spin-off, multiplayer, or another kind of story remains unknown. For fans following Naughty Dog's next-generation projects, the latest update provides a clearer outline without giving away details.

Intergalactic is moving toward a full 2027 reveal, while two new The Last of Us projects are being developed in the background. There is still a long wait ahead, but the studio has finally put some concrete pieces on the board.