Naughty Dog President Neil Druckmann has confirmed the studio is secretly developing a second unannounced project alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

During an interview on the Press X to Continue podcast, Druckmann discussed his multifaceted roles at Sony's acclaimed studio. For Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, he collaborates with game directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau while co-writing the narrative alongside director Claire Carré. The creative lead remained tight-lipped about who's helming the mystery project.

"There's another title in development at Naughty Dog where I'm primarily serving in a producer capacity," Druckmann revealed. "I get to mentor this team, provide feedback, and essentially function as the executive presence."

"I genuinely enjoy these varied roles," he continued. "Constantly shifting between creative responsibilities keeps my work exciting and fresh – I never experience creative fatigue."

The production status of both projects remains unclear. While the announced Intergalactic presumably holds priority, speculation swirls about the nature of this secret second game.

Likely possibilities emerge. Could this signal development of The Last of Us Part III? While Druckmann previously expressed uncertainty about continuing the franchise, he admitted possessing a conclusion for Ellie's story. However, his producer-focused comments suggest otherwise – fans would expect him to assume directing duties for such a pivotal sequel.

The studio might alternatively be revisiting its Uncharted franchise, which hasn't seen a mainline entry since 2017's The Lost Legacy. Alternatively, Naughty Dog may be crafting another original IP following Intergalactic's footsteps.

Notably, Sony might ultimately shelve this unrevealed project. Naughty Dog's recent development history includes turbulence, particularly following December 2023's cancellation of The Last of Us Online multiplayer. The studio redirected focus toward single-player experiences amid Sony's broader retreat from live-service ambitions.

The developer historically contends with managing dual AAA projects - typically prioritizing one over the other. Since 2020's The Last of Us Part II, Naughty Dog has only released remakes and collections.

Regarding Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the sci-fi epic boasts Hollywood talent including Uncharted film actress Tati Gabrielle as protagonist Jordan A. Mun and Marvel's Kumail Nanjiani as Colin Graves. While targeting a 2027 release at earliest, Druckmann excitedly confirmed playable builds exist during The Last of Us Season 2 red carpet.

"We're actively playtesting internal builds and the experience is phenomenal," Druckmann teased. "I'm thrilled to eventually showcase gameplay. Our announcement trailer barely scratched the surface - the full game offers tremendous depth."