The Last of Us Studio New Game Update Highlights Gaming's Biggest Issue

Gaming has a big problem, and The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog’s next game is the perfect example of it.

In case you somehow missed it, Naughty Dog’s next game isn’t the next The Last of Us; in fact, series creator Neil Druckmann isn’t convinced The Last of Us Part 3 will ever be made.

The next game to be released by Naughty Dog will be Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, but according to the latest reports, its release date is a way off, like a long way off.

Announced last year, the game follows a bounty hunter called Jordan A. Mun who finds themselves stranded on a dangerous world run by a crime syndicate. We haven’t seen much gameplay but we did see a pretty sweet looking sword in the trailer, so we’re assuming combat is good.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Speculation has the game launching sometime after 2027 though, highlighting a larger problem in the gaming industry, announcing games long before they’re finished.

We understand the need to build hype and sometimes announcing a game with an action-packed CGI trailer is a good way of getting your game wishlisted, preordered, and backed by investors, but gamers are getting sick of it.

It's Something Naughty Dog Vowed Not To Do

“I miss when games weren’t announced and released in completely different stages of my life,” read a post by domahawkd responding to the latest Intergalactic news, or lack of.

“Some games are announced at the beginning of a Gen and don't release until the next systems are out. Is insane,” said one of the comments.

Another good example, possibly the best, is The Elder Scrolls VI. Why on Earth Bethesda thought it’d be a good idea to announce the game all the way back in 2018 is beyond me, especially when it knew Starfield was going to be the next game on its release schedule. Don’t even get me started on GTA VI.

In the case of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Dog already has a proven and trusted track-record when it comes to its library of games.

Surely this new title could have been announced slightly closer to its release date? Especially when it's got the backing and publishing power of Sony.

We’re not asking for shadowdrops, but surely there’s a happy medium where a game can get announced in reasonable proximity to its release date, build a bit of hype with its marketing and have a successful launch without leaving gamers waiting for five-plus years.