Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Won’t Show at The Game Awards 2025 — Here’s Why That Actually Matters

Why it matters: No trailer at The Game Awards 2025 and probably no 2026 release

Naughty Dog’s space-opera IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was one of the flashiest moments of The Game Awards 2024. So when insiders like Jeff Grubb and Jason Schreier say not to expect a trailer at the 2025 show and that 2026 is an unlikely launch window, it changes the conversation for PlayStation fans. This caught my attention because Naughty Dog doesn’t reveal lightly – when they do, it’s usually a near-term bet. If they’re staying silent, it’s a signal that the game needs time, not hype.

• Key takeaway: No Game Awards trailer in December 2025.
• Earliest realistic release appears to be 2027 or later, according to industry reporting.
• This is likely about scope, polish, and resource juggling at Naughty Dog – not just marketing theater.

Breaking down the announcement – what insiders are saying

Reports from multiple journalists point to a simple conclusion: don’t expect a new trailer at The Game Awards 2025 and don’t pencil Intergalactic into your 2026 calendar. That’s not the same as a formal delay announcement from Naughty Dog or Sony, but it’s credible when voices like Grubb and Schreier line up. Their read is based on developer timelines and show-ready build status — the kind of inside info that usually precedes official word.

Why Naughty Dog would hold off

Naughty Dog’s brand is built on narrative polish and mechanical refinement. The studio spent years crafting The Last of Us Part II and will likely apply the same ruthless standards here. Intergalactic is a new IP with a big scope: a 250-person team, layered sci-fi lore spanning millennia, and a high-profile soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. That kind of ambition increases the risk of unfinished reveals.

There’s also the resource juggling factor. Reports suggest Naughty Dog may be balancing Intergalactic alongside another major project (rumors of a Last of Us Part III have swirled). When you put two AAA ambitions on the same studio roadmap, timelines stretch and marketing windows get pushed until the product can survive the scrutiny that follows a public reveal.

What this means for gamers

Short answer: patience. If you were expecting gameplay before 2026, recalibrate. That’s annoying — yes — but it’s also the better outcome than an early trailer that promises features the studio hasn’t locked down. From a gamer’s perspective, Naughty Dog delaying marketing till they have a stable, representative build is a sign the studio wants to avoid the usual AAA pitfalls: feature cuts, broken systems, or the “we’ll fix it post-launch” playbook.

That said, there’s a trade-off. The longer a project stays in closed development, the bigger the hype balloon gets. Players will speculate about scope creep and whether the tone (anime-influenced sci-fi dealing with faith and institutions) will land. High-profile composers like Reznor and Ross raise expectations for a cinematic, curated experience — and those things take time.

Gameplay and creative notes worth knowing

What we actually know is modest but tantalizing: Intergalactic is an action-adventure set on the mysterious planet Sempiria, with a protagonist who’s a bounty hunter. Naughty Dog’s strength is cinematic systems and character-driven design, so expect narrative beats intertwined with combat and exploration. The pitch’s themes — religion, institutional trust, and long timelines of lore — suggest a story-first approach that leans harder into philosophical questions than some previous Naughty Dog titles.

Industry context — why now?

Why the silence in 2025? The AAA calendar is crowded, and Sony controls its messaging tightly. Throwing Intergalactic into a major show before it’s ready risks damaging perceptions for Sony and the studio. We’ve watched other big teams stumble by hyping too early; studio caution here is a defensive move. Also, Sony’s PlayStation roadmap needs reliable windows — delaying marketing until 2026/2027 lets them place Intergalactic where it won’t cannibalize other first-party launches.

What to watch next

Watch for developer interviews, composer teasers, or small gameplay teases rather than a full Game Awards trailer. Naughty Dog tends to reveal when they can show something representative. If you see a major gameplay reveal in 2026, treat it as a stronger signal of a 2027 release. Until then, enjoy the studio’s back catalog and expect incremental updates rather than a big surprise splash at the end of 2025.

TL;DR

Intergalactic probably won’t show at The Game Awards 2025 and a 2026 release looks unlikely. That’s frustrating, but it’s also a sign Naughty Dog is prioritizing polish over publicity. Expect more measured reveals and a launch window that drifts into 2027 or later unless the studio suddenly accelerates development.