Naughty Dog's Boldest Leap Yet, Intergalactic To Integrate Full RPG Mechanics

More information about Naughty Dog's next big project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, has come out, and it looks like the studio is making a big change to how they create games. A developer profile from a former Naughty Dog employee who worked at the studio from 2022 to 2024 has recently come to light. It confirms that the upcoming game, Intergalactic, will have full RPG-style progression systems.

They've been known for a long time for creating story-driven and linear games, which is a significant step toward giving players more control, allowing them to make changes over time, and adapting the game's structure as the player progresses. The developer's job description indicates that they will be working on "RPG progression systems," which suggests a more complex, character-driven structure than typical action-adventure gameplay. Neil Druckmann, co-president of Naughty Dog, said earlier this year that Intergalactic was the studio's most ambitious project and technically deep game to date.

This new information fits right in with what he said. He made it clear that the project isn't just an iteration; it's meant to break new ground by using what we've learned from games like "The Last of Us" and "Uncharted", while also going into design land that hasn't been explored before. What's most interesting is that Druckmann has said nice things about Elden Ring, FromSoftware's groundbreaking open-world RPG. He had already said that the game's special way of telling stories and freedom within the structure inspired him.

People don't think that Intergalactic will use a fighting system like Souls, but there are some philosophical similarities. This suggests that Intergalactic might value player choice, multiple ways to move through the story, and gameplay that changes on the fly, giving players experiences that are shaped more by their choices than by a set script.

In Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, players don't have to stick to a strict path. Instead, they can build their character over time, gaining different skills along the way, and experience the story in a way that is modular and controlled by the player. This design brings to mind some of the best things about Elden Ring: the freedom to choose, the exploration of consequences, and the fact that each person has a unique experience. This could be a big turning point not only for Naughty Dog but also for AAA stories in general if it's done right.

The switch to RPG-style development doesn't just mean more depth in the gameplay; it also means more depth in the story. With more complex progression systems, players are often urged to feel emotionally connected to how their character changes over time. This fits right in with Naughty Dog's long-standing skills in telling complex and emotional stories. With the ability to change both skills and moral guidance, along with a cinematic structure, Intergalactic might be able to tell a story that has a bigger effect on people than anything the studio has tried before.

In addition, this growth cycle is a very important time for Naughty Dog. Since The Last of Us Part II came out in 2020, the company has kind of been out of the spotlight. There have been rumors about canceled multiplayer projects and secret IPs, but Intergalactic is now the clearest sign of where the studio is going. Although there isn't a set date for the release, early reports and internal lists suggest that the project has been in the works for a while. This means that a full reveal could be coming soon, maybe as early as late 2025 or late 2026.

As with anything that hasn't been proven, expectations need to be kept in check. The project is still mostly a secret, and other than the original reveal trailer, which was likely made in-engine, there has been no public showing of live gameplay. Still, the confirmation of RPG features gives more weight to earlier hints about how big and complicated the game will be. It also makes people think about a possible move toward semi-open or fully open-world structures, which would make sense with these kinds of systems.

There are risks, of course. When you start making RPGs, you can be compared to makers who focus on systemic design and nonlinear stories. Studios like CD Projekt Red, Bethesda, and Larian have spent decades getting better at how they tell open-ended stories and make characters grow. Even though Naughty Dog games are the best at cinematic presentation and emotional arcs, the company will need to show that it can match that level of systemic complexity while still keeping the polish that makes its brand famous.

It looks more and more likely that Intergalactic will be different from what Naughty Dog has made so far. It could test not only how good the studio is at technology but also how well it can rethink what interactive stories can look like now that Elden Ring is over. Although some longtime fans might be hesitant about the studio's usual linear structure, the potential return is huge: an evolution that combines deep gameplay, characters that make you feel something, and a world that changes based on what you do.

How well Intergalactic is executed will determine whether it changes the studio's future or just provides an interesting side trip. But early signs show that Naughty Dog isn't just trying something new; they're getting ready to completely change what people expect from story-driven AAA games.

Fans have to wait for now. However, if this level of ambition leads to deep gameplay, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet could be Naughty Dog's most important game since The Last of Us. And in a market full of remakes and sequels, an original, bold RPG from one of the most prestigious companies in the business might be just what the genre needs.