Naughty Dog is reportedly drawing inspiration from the acclaimed game Elden Ring for its upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Upon the game’s announcement, the studio hinted that it would feature the “deepest gameplay” seen in its history. An industry insider has suggested that elements of FromSoftware’s award-winning action-RPG, which took home the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2022, will play a significant role in shaping Intergalactic.
Naughty Dog Draws from Elden Ring
Ben Hanson, the founder of the independent gaming outlet MinnMax, indicated that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will incorporate inspirations from Elden Ring, aiming to provide players with greater freedom of choice.
“At some point on the podcast a while ago, prior to the reveal trailer, I hinted that ‘I’ve heard Naughty Dog’s next game is heavily inspired by a game with a lot of player freedom.’ I think it’s appropriate to clarify now: that game was indeed Elden Ring,” Hanson noted on a recent episode of The MinnMax Show.
“If I had said ‘Naughty Dog’s next game resembles Elden Ring’ before the reveal trailer was shown, I believe the response would have been intense. However, now that we understand it takes place on a single planet, exploring the history of this world, one can perceive more clearly the direction they may be headed,” he added.
Before the official announcement of Intergalactic at The Game Awards 2024, Hanson had previously claimed on his show, citing a source connected to the project, that this upcoming title would offer “a lot of player freedom.”
Neil Druckmann Discusses Intergalactic
Following the game’s reveal, Neil Druckmann, president of Naughty Dog and director of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, expressed that this title would present the studio’s “wildest, most creative story yet.” He also assured fans that it would feature the same emotional, character-driven storytelling for which the developer is known, alongside the “deepest gameplay” in Naughty Dog’s history.
Interestingly, prior to the announcement of Intergalactic, Druckmann had spoken about his interest in games like Elden Ring and Inside, which emphasize storytelling through exploration and gameplay rather than relying solely on conventional narratives and cutscenes.
“I have recently been fascinated by games like Elden Ring and Inside that utilize non-traditional narrative formats to convey their stories. Some of the best storytelling in ‘The Last of Us’ is embedded in the cinematics, but much of it is also found in the gameplay, encouraging players to navigate spaces and uncover histories simply through observation,” Druckmann remarked in an interview with The Washington Post in 2023.
While Naughty Dog has not disclosed many details about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the reveal trailer hints at a shift in gameplay style compared to previous titles. Unlike its prior works, such as Uncharted and The Last of Us—both of which are third-person action-adventure games focused heavily on shooting—Intergalactic seems to be integrating melee combat elements, as evidenced by the protagonist using a sword in the trailer.
The game is set on an isolated planet where exploration will be vital for uncovering the mysteries of its past and guiding players through the experience. The open-ended exploration style that defined Elden Ring’s world, the Lands Between, may influence the gameplay mechanics in Intergalactic.
Although Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet does not currently have a confirmed release date, it has been under development since 2020 and will be launched exclusively on the PS5.
