Faith and Religion will be at the Core of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Following their work on “The Last of Us Part II” and its HBO counterpart, Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog are preparing to debut a fresh creation titled “Intergalactic: Heretic Prophet“.

Fans are able to gather certain aspects of the plot from the announcement, yet Druckmann disclosed the main themes of the game as well as how The Last of Us Part II impacted his choice-making process.

“Let’s Do Something People Won’t Care as Much About”

During a recent chat on “Creator to Creator” with director Alex Garland, Druckmann shared some insights about his upcoming project. He mentioned that the intense backlash from “The Last of Us Part II” actually motivated him to create a game centered around an issue even more likely to spark debate among players.

Druckmann explains:

It’s amusing because when discussing our work with my team, I might say something like, “You know what? With ‘The Last of Us II’, we took some creative risks that ended up earning us both praise and criticism. While many people adore it, others have expressed strong dislike for the game.

The joke is similar to, ‘You know what, let’s try something less popular. Let’s create a game centered around faith and religion.

Neil Druckmann remains vague regarding the specifics of the religion pivotal to the storyline, yet it appears to be associated with the world where the main character, Jordan (played by Tati Gabrielle), unexpectedly becomes trapped. Druckmann goes on to explain further.

In the course of time, this recently emerged faith gains significant popularity. Subsequently, we spend decades constructing and shaping this religion, tracing its roots back to the original prophet, while witnessing its transformations, distortions, and evolution over centuries. At one juncture, communication ceases entirely from this planet. You assume the role of a bounty hunter, pursuing your quarry, who crash-lands on this very same planet.

The Game is also about Loneliness

With “The Last of Us” and “Uncharted” focusing on connection, Druckmann expresses his intention to shift gears with “Intergalactic.” Unlike his previous works, this game will delve into themes of loneliness, aiming to create a gaming experience that leaves players feeling isolated.

Druckmann expressed his desire to develop a game that explores themes of faith and solitude. He explained, “In our past projects, there’s usually someone by your side. I want this time to immerse players in a place where they feel lost, questioning the people, history, and purpose behind it all. To escape this planet – which has been silent for 600 years – you must uncover the mysteries of its past.

It’s intriguing to consider how Neil Druckmann, who has been pioneering emotional connections in gaming with “The Last of Us Part II,” might tackle the theme of loneliness in his future projects.

It’s been suggested by some that Hideo Kojima’s game, Death Stranding, touches on feelings of loneliness as part of its narrative – the goal being to reconnect humanity once more. However, Druckmann might take a different approach this time around. With Death Stranding 2 in development, fans are anticipating another high-quality sci-fi game with walking simulation elements.

It’s possible that Druckmann is planning something other than just the retro-futuristic feel reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, which he seems to be drawing inspiration from.

There’s no specific launch date announced for “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” yet, but eager fans are optimistically anticipating its release around the year 2025.

2025-03-13 00:13

“Let’s Do Something People Won’t Care as Much About”

The Game is also about Loneliness

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