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Troy Baker Says The Heretic Prophet Pushes Naughty Dog Beyond Its Limits in Intergalactic

Troy Baker teases Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, calling it a test of what the studio can do.

By mitch·5 min read
An astronaut stands on a barren alien world under a distant glowing nebula.

Troy Baker has told fans they are going to have their minds blown, but they are not ready for what Naughty Dog is cooking up next. Speaking at Ottawa Comiccon in Ontario, Canada, the Last of Us actor and voice performer teased Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the studio’s upcoming sci-fi adventure, saying the project is “testing the bounds” of what Naughty Dog is capable of.

“You guys are going to have your minds blown,” Baker said during the hour-long panel. He then covered his mouth and closed his eyes, adding, “You are not ready. You are not ready. It’s so good.”

The footage was captured and shared on YouTube, with clips making their way around social media today. Baker’s enthusiasm was the clear highlight of the talk.

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Baker’s Performance Capture Tease

Baker confirmed what Naughty Dog had previously announced: the studio recently wrapped shooting performance capture for its new IP. That process captures actors’ movements and expressions, which are then used to bring video game characters to life.

Of all the things he could have pointed to, Baker chose to highlight star Tati Gabrielle and her work as main character Jordan A. Mun. “I don’t know how [writer and director Neil Druckmann] found two amazing actors,” he said, referencing Ashley Johnson’s casting as Ellie in The Last of Us. “He found Ashley for Ellie, and he found Tati for Jordan. It’s like, what? How do you do that?”

He continued: “She is the spiritual successor. There is so much about Jordan and that game of Intergalactic that feels like… man, I feel all of it. I feel Uncharted, I feel The Last of Us, I feel something new. They are testing the bounds of what that studio is capable of. Everything that I’ve seen, they are delivering, and it’s going to be incredible.”

The Long Road to Release

Naughty Dog first revealed Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet at The Game Awards 2024. Since then, the studio has released almost nothing about the game beyond a first reveal trailer. Druckmann called the new game “incredible” in 2025, and later that same year he joked that he had been “bootcamp-ing” Gabrielle on the hate the studio’s received regarding The Last of Us Part 2.

Druckmann also said he was stepping away from HBO’s The Last of Us show to pour his focus into the project’s development. He described Intergalactic as the “most ambitious game” the team has made to date.

There is no firm release date. Naughty Dog no-shows State of Plays and goes on seven years without a new game release, so the lack of a date is not surprising. But there are at least a few reasons to suspect we’ll learn more in the somewhat near future.

The 2027 Rumor

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has no official launch schedule in place for now. However, there have been rumors that the PlayStation developer is shooting for a 2027 launch.

Wrapping up work on performance capture just last month means that progress is moving steadily ahead. The Last of Us Part 2 reached a similar milestone one year before its 2020 launch in 2019, so if the team is following that same trajectory, there is at least hope we’ll learn more in the months ahead.

What We Actually Know About the Game

The reveal trailer remains the only actual look at Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Beyond that, the game’s story, setting, and gameplay remain unexplained.

The game’s title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, suggests a space-themed narrative involving religious or prophetic themes. Baker’s comparisons to Uncharted and The Last of Us suggest the game will lean on exploration and action-adventure elements.

Baker’s Convention Appearance

Baker’s comments came during a convention appearance where he spoke about the Last of Us franchise and its future. He was asked about the series’ direction, and his response was playful rather than definitive.

“We’ll see,” he said, crossing his fingers.

The Wait Continues

The lack of a release date means fans are still waiting. The Last of Us Day 2026 has given fans a little something to chew on while they await the series’ return, but Intergalactic remains the bigger question mark.

Baker’s enthusiasm is infectious, but his promises are vague. He is not giving plot details or release windows. He is giving excitement.

The Bottom Line

Baker’s tease is fun, but it is not information. He is promising a mind-blowing experience without telling anyone what that experience is.

The game’s title, the studio’s reputation, and Baker’s enthusiasm are enough to keep interest alive. Whether Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet lives up to the hype will depend on the final product.

What fans have now is a promise and a wait. Baker’s smile and his promise that they are not ready are the only guarantees on offer.

Key Dates So Far

Event Date Detail
The Game Awards 2024 Revealed First public look
2025 Called “incredible” Druckmann’s description
2026 Bootcamp joke Gabrielle handling fan backlash
Last of Us Day 2026 Event Fan engagement
Recent Performance capture wrap Studio milestone

What We Know About Intergalactic

  • Revealed at The Game Awards 2024
  • Called “incredible” by Druckmann in 2025
  • Bootcamp joke about Gabrielle in 2026
  • Performance capture wrapped recently
  • No firm release date
  • 2027 launch rumored
  • Title: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Source material: “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Is 'Testing the Bounds' of What Naughty Dog Is Capable of, Troy Baker Says,” IGN.

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