Naughty Dog boss Neil Druckmann has further discussed the company’s upcoming new IP, Intergalatic: The Heretic Prophet, saying it offers the “deepest” gameplay for any game the studio has made so far. Druckmann also briefly discussed the backlash from some people to the game’s unveiling.
Speaking to Last Stand Media (via PC Gamer), Druckmann said he’s “very, very excited” for Intergalactic, adding that “it’s the deepest gameplay we’ve ever done.” It’s not exactly clear what he means by that, but we should find out in time. “I can’t wait to show it off,” Druckmann said.
The reveal trailer for Intergalactic showed main character Jordan A. Mun in a spaceship before she descended down onto a planet to fight a giant robot enemy with a red sword. The trailer cut out just as the action was set to begin, so we can only guess as to what happens next.
Also in the interview, Druckmann reacted to some of the controversy surrounding Intergalactic, and specifically the misogynistic and racist comments directed at Tati Gabrielle, who plays Mun.
“I don’t know if there’s much I could add to that conversation, to be honest,” Druckmann said. “There’s stuff happening with media right now that you just have to ignore for the most part, just stick to your guns, and do what you believe in. And I feel like that’s how I want artists to carry themselves.”
Gabrielle herself said she received “a lot of love” about her playing the lead in Naughty Dog’s new game, but there was also “lot of hate over me being a woman, me being a woman of color, me having my head shaved; all these things…”
She said Druckmann told her to ignore it and have faith that Naughty Dog is “going to make something that we’re proud of.”
Intergalactic, which Druckmann is directing, is in the works now for PS5, but it doesn’t have a release date. It’s not the only game that Naughty Dog is currently building, as it’s also making at least one other single-player game, which Druckmann is also involved with. It’s unknown what this game is, but some are theorizing that it could be The Last of Us 3.
Meanwhile, HBO’s The Last of Us TV series–which Druckmann is involved with–wraps up its second season on Sunday, May 25. A third season will follow, and a fourth may close the show out.
