I found the rumor in a comment thread at 2 a.m., blinking at text that insisted Nathan Drake wasn’t retiring after all. You feel that spike of hope—it’s the same electric jolt fans get when an old franchise stirs. I’ll tell you what the report actually says, why it matters, and what to watch for next.
On forums and feeds, the MP1st post lit up immediately.
The headline: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet ships first, then Naughty Dog moves onto a new Uncharted—possibly directed by Shaun Escayag, who handled Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. That claim contradicts Naughty Dog’s own recent messaging, which only confirmed two The Last of Us projects plus the new sci-fi IP.
I don’t dismiss leaks, but I read them like treasure maps—sometimes genuine, sometimes a prank left under glass. If MP1st is right, the studio is juggling a lot: a sci‑fi launch, two TLOU efforts, and an early-stage Uncharted that’s reportedly not a remake.
Is Naughty Dog making a new Uncharted?
Short answer: maybe. MP1st says yes; Naughty Dog hasn’t officially confirmed it. The report names Shaun Escayag as lead, which fits a pattern—Sony and PlayStation often reuse trusted directors for franchise follow-ups. But the studio has been quiet on Intergalactic, and silence from an internal roadmap usually means “very early” or “years away.”
At PlayStation presentations, fans still ask for Drake by name.
That demand matters. From a business angle, returning to a proven franchise is sensible: Uncharted still sells on PS4/PS5, and PlayStation leans on legacy brands when new IP cycles are long. If Naughty Dog greenlights a fresh Uncharted, expect careful planning—this won’t be a quick cash grab.
Development timelines are the real friction. Naughty Dog hasn’t shipped a new title since The Last of Us Part II in 2020. Unless the studio radically pares down scope or expands staff, whatever comes after Intergalactic will be a long wait—likely measured in multiple console cycles.
When will Intergalactic be released?
No hard date exists. The studio’s statement only confirms the project is active. Industry tempo and Naughty Dog’s history suggest a release window that could be years off, especially since public footage and announcements have been sparse.
In hiring news and credits, names like Shaun Escayag stand out.
Escayag’s resume includes The Lost Legacy and a stint as creative director on Crystal Dynamics’ Marvel’s Avengers. That combination suggests Naughty Dog could steer a new Uncharted toward character-driven action with cinematic polish. Sony and PlayStation’s past moves show they favor directors who can protect brand identity while trying new beats.
If Naughty Dog is doubling down on legacy series, that choice is less risky than launching a string of new IPs. Think of the studio as a master clockmaker tinkering with gears you already know—sometimes the familiar mechanism keeps fans ticking.
Will The Last of Us Part III happen?
The rumor mill still says yes, but with caveats. Naughty Dog confirmed multiple TLOU projects, yet one of those is the HBO series tie-ins and another could be a different format or timeline. A full Part III remains plausible, but it’s not guaranteed or imminent.
In market terms, PlayStation’s portfolio strategy is visible.
Sony is balancing new science-fiction (Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic), ongoing live‑service and TV tie-ins, plus legacy franchises. That mix minimizes revenue risk while keeping creative teams employed. You’ve seen this before in how studios sequence big-budget titles around platform cycles and PS5 adoption curves.
Official confirmation will come slowly: press releases, a trailer on State of Play, then interviews with Neil Druckmann or studio leads. Until then, treat MP1st’s claims as a credible tip that requires secondary confirmation from PlayStation, Naughty Dog PR, or Escayag himself.
I’m betting you’ll watch this unfold—do you want Naughty Dog to return to Drake, or should they keep chasing new worlds like Intergalactic?