Naughty Dog's Double Reveal: Two New The Last of Us Projects and an Intergalactic Wait Until 2027
For years, fans have asked Naughty Dog the same two questions.
Is there more The Last of Us coming? And when will we finally see more of Intergalactic?
On The Last of Us Day, Neil Druckmann answered both. The answers were exciting, a little frustrating, and very carefully worded.
🔥 Main Story: Naughty Dog Confirms Two New The Last of Us Projects
Studio head Neil Druckmann closed out this year's The Last of Us Day celebration with a blog post that included two major updates.
First, Naughty Dog is working on two new projects set in The Last of Us universe. As GameSpot reports, Druckmann said both projects are in the early stages of development and will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II.
Second, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet won't be fully revealed until 2027. The studio plans to stay quiet about the game for the rest of 2026.
Those two announcements landed together, which is why many fans immediately connected them. But Naughty Dog didn't say one caused the other.
🎮 What Happened
The Last of Us Day is held every year on September 26, matching Outbreak Day in the franchise's timeline.
This year, Druckmann built his post around the two questions fans ask most.
On The Last of Us, he explained that Naughty Dog has discussed telling more stories in that world since Grounded II, the February 2024 documentary about the making of The Last of Us Part II. He said the studio has a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages, so it can't say much yet.
On Intergalactic, the message was about patience. According to Digital Trends, Druckmann called it Naughty Dog's most ambitious game yet and said the team needs to cook a little longer before showing more.
Here's the timeline:
Intergalactic Revealed (December 2024) → Grounded II Documentary → Long Silence → The Last of Us Day Post (September 2026) → Full Intergalactic Reveal (2027)
🧠 Why It Matters
This is the first official confirmation that Naughty Dog will return to The Last of Us after Part II.
That matters because Part II ended in a way that left fans divided on whether the story should continue at all. Druckmann's post makes it clear the studio believes there are still stories worth telling.
It also resets expectations for Intergalactic. Fans hoping for a big showing at The Game Awards this December now know that's unlikely.
⚠️ Important: Naughty Dog described the new The Last of Us work as "projects," not games. It hasn't confirmed whether either one is The Last of Us Part III, a new game, a spinoff, or something else.
⚡ Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Announcement | The Last of Us Day 2026 blog post |
| Announced By | Neil Druckmann, Naughty Dog studio head |
| New Projects | Two, set in The Last of Us universe |
| Development Stage | Very early |
| Story Scope | Expands canon beyond Part I and Part II |
| Part III Confirmed | No |
| Intergalactic Updates in 2026 | None planned |
| Intergalactic Full Reveal | 2027 |
| Intergalactic Platform | PlayStation 5 |
| Intergalactic Release Date | Not announced |
🔍 Deeper Breakdown
Projects, Not Games
The wording here matters. Druckmann said "projects," and several outlets noticed that he never used the word "games."
That leaves the door open to a lot of possibilities. They could be new games, but they could also be spinoffs, smaller stories or other kinds of media set in the same world.
GosuGamers notes that Druckmann stopped just short of confirming whether these projects are new video games or sequels to The Last of Us Part II.
Druckmann also said Naughty Dog wouldn't return to the series unless it had something meaningful to say.
Is This The Last of Us Part III?
Many fans hope so, and the phrase "expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II" certainly sounds like the story will move forward in some way.
But that isn't the same as confirming a Part III. With both projects in very early stages, it could be years before fans learn what they actually are.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Intergalactic was revealed with a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards on December 12, 2024. Naughty Dog has been developing it for PlayStation 5 since 2020, after The Last of Us Part II launched.
It's the studio's first original franchise since The Last of Us in 2013. The game follows Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter who becomes stranded on a dangerous planet.
Druckmann also stepped away from HBO's The Last of Us series last year to focus on leading Intergalactic's development.
Was Intergalactic Delayed?
Not officially. Naughty Dog never gave Intergalactic a public release date, so it can't technically be delayed.
What changed is timing. Fans expected more news sooner, especially after nearly two years of silence. Now the studio has confirmed the next major look won't come until 2027.
There's also no official link between the new The Last of Us projects and the Intergalactic timeline. Druckmann described the Last of Us projects as very early, while Intergalactic is the studio's current major focus.
The Last of Us Online Factor
Naughty Dog's history offers useful context. In 2023, the studio cancelled its multiplayer project, often called The Last of Us Online.
According to This Week in Video Games, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier previously suggested that Intergalactic didn't have most of Naughty Dog's staff until after that multiplayer project was cancelled.
If that's accurate, Intergalactic's development may have ramped up later than its 2020 start date suggests. That's context, not an official explanation.
💡 Note: Naughty Dog also pledged to address crunch culture after The Last of Us Part II. Taking more time on Intergalactic may reflect that approach, though the studio hasn't directly linked the two.
What We Know
- Confirmed: Two new The Last of Us projects are in very early stages
- Confirmed: Both will expand the canon beyond Part I and Part II
- Confirmed: Intergalactic will be fully revealed in 2027
- Confirmed: No more Intergalactic updates are planned for 2026
- Not confirmed: Part III, project formats, platforms or release windows
- Not confirmed: Any Intergalactic release date
What Could Happen Next
Some reports have speculated that Intergalactic could be revealed in the first half of 2027 and launch later that year. That's speculation, not an official timeline.
There are also rumors of a secret Uncharted revival project led by Shaun Escayg. Naughty Dog hasn't confirmed that either, so treat it as a rumor.
📊 Quick Comparison
| Project | Stage | What's Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet | In full development since 2020 | PS5, full reveal in 2027 |
| The Last of Us Project 1 | Very early | Expands canon beyond Part II |
| The Last of Us Project 2 | Very early | Expands canon beyond Part II |
| Uncharted Revival | Rumored | Nothing official |
🌌 What This Means for PlayStation Fans
For PlayStation players, this announcement provides long term clarity.
Intergalactic is clearly Naughty Dog's next big release. The Last of Us projects are further away, likely to follow years later.
That means fans shouldn't expect a new The Last of Us game anytime soon, even though the franchise is officially continuing.
It also means Naughty Dog is now managing multiple major projects at different stages, something that could help the studio avoid long gaps between releases in the future.
💡 Creator Note
For creators and Discord communities, this is a great moment to host discussion and speculation.
- Run a prediction poll: Ask whether fans want Part III, a spinoff or a new story entirely
- Create "what we know" threads: Separate confirmed details from rumors
- Revisit Intergalactic's reveal trailer: Frame breakdowns can fuel discussion until 2027
- Label speculation clearly: Avoid turning rumors into facts
- Plan a 2027 watch party: Get your community ready for the full Intergalactic reveal
🚨 What Happens Next
Here's what to watch:
- The Game Awards 2026: Naughty Dog has said Intergalactic won't be shown this year
- 2027 Intergalactic reveal: Expect gameplay, story and possibly a release window
- More The Last of Us details: Likely years away, given the early development stage
- Rumors and leaks: Expect plenty, but treat them carefully
- Studio hiring: Job listings may offer clues about the new projects
Last of Us Day Post → Quiet 2026 → Intergalactic Full Reveal (2027) → Intergalactic Launch → Next Last of Us Story
Final Takeaway
Naughty Dog's announcement gave fans exactly what they wanted to hear, just not on the timeline they hoped for.
The Last of Us isn't over. Two new projects are officially underway, and they'll push the story beyond Part II. But they're early, and details are locked away.
Meanwhile, Intergalactic is going quiet for the rest of the year before its full reveal in 2027. That wait may frustrate fans, but it also signals something important: Naughty Dog is betting big on its first new world in more than a decade, and it wants that reveal to land perfectly.
🔗 Further Reading
- God is a Geek's full announcement recap: A clear summary of both questions Druckmann answered.
- Wccftech on the 2027 Intergalactic reveal: Includes Druckmann's full quotes and launch window speculation.
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet on Wikipedia: Background on the game's development, story and cast.
