Naughty Dog ended The Last of Us Day celebrations with a bit of news concerning the franchise.
Game developer Naughty Dog recently concluded The Last of Us Day celebrations with some rather big announcements: two new projects are currently in the works set in the post-apocalyptic franchise. The projects “will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II”, according to studio head Neil Druckmann.
Additionally, Druckmann confirmed that Naughty Dog’s next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, will only be shown off in 2027, as the studio needs to “cook for just a little bit longer.”
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Release date: TBA
Platform: PlayStation 5
Developer: Naughty Dog
Is Naughty Dog making The Last of Us Part III?
Every year, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog celebrates The Last of Us Day, a celebration of the franchise that coincides with the in-game Outbreak Day; 26 September, 2013. This is when the Cordyceps infection began to spread across the world with great ferocity, triggering a worldwide apocalypse-level event.
This year, studio head Neil Druckmann concluded 2026’s The Last of Us Day by teasing new projects related to the franchise. In a blog update, Druckmann announced:
“We have a couple of very exciting new projects in very early stages – so we can’t say much about them at this point. I will tell you that both projects will expand the canon of The Last of Us beyond Part I and Part II. The world of The Last of Us means a great deal to us, and we wouldn’t return to it unless we had something meaningful to say. We believe these stories are worth telling.”
However, the studio head stopped just short of confirming whether these projects are new video games or sequels to The Last of Us Part II. Hence, while it is currently unknown if The Last of Us Part III is in development, an expansion of the franchise is definitely in the works.
When will a new trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet come out?
Druckmann also addressed the elephant in the room: its next big video game release, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The game was notably absent at a recent September 2026 State of Play presentation, as well as all game showcases since its original reveal on 12 December, 2024.
Druckmann told readers that the studio needs “to cook for just a little bit longer” before announcing more news for the game, writing:
“So we want to set expectations: we’re going to be quiet for the rest of this year. In 2027, that changes. We’ll fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and give you a proper look at Jordan’s wild sci-fi adventure. We know it’s been a long time since we’ve had much to share with you. We don’t take your continued support for granted. We’re working incredibly hard to make something worthy of your patience.”
Thus, players will have to wait until 2027 to get a new look at Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The upcoming game does not have a release date yet.
