Intergalactic Is Naughty Dog’s “Most Ambitious” Game Yet—Here’s What That Actually Means

Naughty Dog’s Big Swing: Intergalactic Goes Full RPG

This caught my attention because Naughty Dog doesn’t throw around “RPG” lightly-and honestly, they’ve never shipped one. In a new interview, Neil Druckmann calls Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet the studio’s “most ambitious” project, a character-driven, third-person RPG with multiple open hubs. It’s PS5-exclusive and undated. That combo-new genre, big scope, no date-sets hype soaring and red flags blinking in equal measure.

Key Takeaways

• Druckmann says Intergalactic features “the deepest gameplay” Naughty Dog has made and is “a deep, third‑person, character‑driven RPG with several open hubs to explore.”
• It’s PS5-only at launch, leaning into big-budget presentation and (presumably) heavy DualSense/SSD tech flex—no release window yet.
• Star casting: Tati Gabrielle leads as Jordan; Troy Baker is involved; Tony Dalton has been mentioned—expect extensive performance capture.
• Huge promise, but ND’s first true RPG means questions about systems depth, player choice, and how “open” those hubs really are.

Breaking Down the Announcement

Speaking to Variety, Druckmann didn’t mince words. He calls Intergalactic “the deepest gameplay we’ve ever made,” promising “a deep third‑person, character‑driven RPG with several open hubs to explore.” He added, “It’s the biggest game we’ve ever created, and maybe the most expensive once we finish it.” On the narrative side, he singled out lead actor Tati Gabrielle (cast as Jordan): “I think she will become an iconic, complex, and interesting character, very much in the Naughty Dog tradition.”

Those are big, carefully chosen phrases. “Open hubs” suggests more freedom than Uncharted’s guided rollercoaster and even beyond The Last of Us Part II’s Seattle Day 1 sandbox. Still, don’t read “open world.” Think sizeable zones with missions and optional paths rather than a fully systemic sandbox.

From Uncharted Ledges to RPG Systems: Why This Is New Territory

Naughty Dog’s lineage is crystal: precision-crafted, narrative-first action. Uncharted 4 flirted with openness (Madagascar, Scotland). The Last of Us pushed immersion and introduced light buildcraft and stealth options. But “RPG” implies deeper systems—build diversity, meaningful choices, progression that changes how you play, maybe dialogue, factions, or reputation. That’s not ND’s comfort zone, and that’s exactly why this is exciting.

Sony’s first-party portfolio already skirts RPG territory—Horizon’s skill trees, God of War’s gear, Ghost of Tsushima’s open structure. ND jumping in could mean the best of both worlds: their unmatched character work with genuinely reactive mechanics. Or it could be the worst version: cinematic polish with a token skill tree bolted on. The studio’s cancellation of The Last of Us Online signaled a renewed focus on single-player; Intergalactic looks like the payoff, but it needs more than prestige production to land.

What Gamers Should Watch For

• Systems depth: Are we talking full builds with tradeoffs (stealth, tech, biotics—whatever the sci‑fi equivalent is), or just incremental stat bumps?
• Player agency: Do choices affect relationships, quest outcomes, and world state, or is this still largely linear with flavor options?
• Hub design: Are hubs sprawling and replayable with emergent combat/stealth loops, or one-and-done sightseeing tours?
• Combat sandbox: ND’s animation and AI are elite. If those meet flexible RPG toolkits, we could get encounters as expressive as immersive sims.
• Accessibility and performance: ND sets standards here. A huge, hub-based RPG must maintain that bar at 60fps modes without tearing immersion apart.

Casting, Performance, and Presentation

Gabrielle leading as Jordan fits ND’s playbook: strong central performance anchoring everything. Troy Baker’s involvement hints at a familiar creative shorthand on set. Tony Dalton has been mentioned as part of the ensemble, though roles aren’t clear yet. Celebrity casts are cool, but the real question is whether performance capture fuels reactive gameplay—not just cutscenes. ND’s magic is making story bleed into moment-to-moment decisions. If Intergalactic’s sci‑fi canvas lets them experiment with tools and traversal (gravity toys? energy manipulation? ship-to-hub transitions?), that marriage could sing.

Platform Reality: PS5 Exclusive, No Date

Intergalactic is PS5-only, which tracks with Sony’s prestige strategy. The upside: seamless streaming across large hubs via the SSD, haptics that actually matter, 3D audio for spatial awareness. The downside: no PC mention (for now), and no launch window. Given the scope, temper expectations—polish-first studios don’t rush. If you’re eyeing a hardware upgrade, watch for how ND targets performance modes and whether the game leans into controller features beyond gimmicks.

Bottom line: this reads like a real evolution, not just Uncharted with a skill tree. But “most ambitious” is a promise that has to show up in systems and player freedom, not just budget and star power. Until we see raw gameplay that demonstrates choice and consequence, skepticism is healthy.

TL;DR

Naughty Dog says Intergalactic is a deep, character-driven RPG with open hubs and a heavyweight cast, built exclusively for PS5. It sounds huge—and new for the studio. Now they need to prove the “R” in RPG with real agency and systems, not just cinematic gloss. No date yet, so keep the hype in check until we see gameplay.