Upcoming Game Shifts Focus to Spirituality

Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann has unveiled intriguing insights about their upcoming videogame Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The title steers clear of controversial themes and delves into a narrative centered around faith and spirituality.

During a discussion with filmmaker Alex Garland on the Creator to Creator podcast, Druckmann explained that this installment hopes to explore spiritual themes that are typically avoided in gaming. He remarked on the polarizing reception of his previous work, saying:

“We made certain creative decisions that got us a lot of hate. A lot of people love it, but a lot of people hate that game.”
Translation: We made certain creative choices that received backlash. While some love it, others despise it.

In this next game venturing into the sci-fi genre, Druckmann mentions that it’s set 2000 years into a future diverging from our current timeline since the late 1980s. This world introduces a new religion, evolving from a visionary’s teachings over centuries.

The game will not be set on Earth but on a fictional planet named Sempiria, the linchpin of this new faith. Players will assume the role of a bounty hunter, navigating this unfamiliar world rife with mysteries and past narratives.

Druckmann aspires for players to feel lost and intrigued as they uncover the secrets of this new universe, stepping away from traditional gameplay styles previously present in Naughty Dog titles.

Naughty Dog Concept (Image credit: Naughty Dog)