Every September, anticipation builds among PlayStation fans for news about games. Sony has made it a point to capitalize on this month, when the events would sometimes reveal some of the company’s most paramount first-party titles. Last year, Ghost of Yotei became the focal point of conversation after its reveal. This year could be the same, with many hungry eyes pointed straight at Naughty Dog.
Rumors again suggest a major showcase for the next big sci-fi project from Naughty Dog, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. An astonishing amount of speculation has been raised with a recent job posting from the studio. They are purportedly on the lookout for a gameplay capture artist for a dual purpose involving promotional videos and screenshots. The role would chiefly involve capturing moments of cinematics and gameplay that feature narrative or core highlights; in other words, marketing looks to soon commence.
While the listing might not technically give confirmation of anything regarding the project, the studio made it pretty clear in promoting the job through a social media post, wherein they attached images of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. That alone hints at the team gearing up for something extraordinary, most likely the new trailer with gameplay. Going back on past trends, September State of Play seems to be the most fitting place for such a revelation.
Fans are thinking that this will be no way, just another teaser. Intergalactic has been in development since 2020, meaning it has been almost five years of a long cycle itself for Naughty Dog. Their titles have always been characterized by cinematic storytelling and gameplay that is highly detailed, meaning that it only makes sense for them to do a complete gameplay showcase just before a release.
Naughty Dog has other projects in the making, one of which is believed to be a new Uncharted game and another an unknown title; however, Intergalactic seems to be ahead in the queue of finished projects. The timing of the hiring of a gameplay capture artist before a big PlayStation event is a strong indicator that they want the footage to be ready for an important reveal.
What distinguishes Intergalactic is the genre shift. Mostly known for realistic, grounded action-adventure games like The Last of Us, Naughty Dog now ventures into large-scale sci-fi territory. Interstellar conflicts, political intrigue, and moral choices were implied during early teasers, something that could triumphantly merge their trademark storytelling with fresh worlds and concepts of gameplay.
Revealing this in September could strengthen the first-party lineup from Sony, leading into 2025. In light of live-service titles and competitive shooters from other developers, a cinematic, story-driven sci-fi game could turn out to be the highlight to shine in the year of PlayStation exclusives.
Officially, the nature of the September event is still unknown; could it be a regular State of Play, or something more? But their history speaks for itself. If Sony is apparently going in with a couple of first-party announcements, along with the one from Naughty Dog, it could very well end up being one of the talked-about gaming events this year.
Expectations from fans will go beyond a CGI trailer to want a release date, platform specification, and a genuine glimpse of gameplay, actually relying heavily on what Sony should have to show after such a lengthy development time beyond cinematic files.
Naughty Dog’s marketing way of doing things also adds to the excitement level. They are popularly known for very well-controlled reveals that leave just enough out for people to continue ruminating on, while deliberately keeping big story details militant. The fact that the intergalactic images were used in a public job advertisement feels like a way to spread a buzz while not opening too much.
If this job listing is tied directly to the trailer they will be releasing, that means they may have already begun doing final gameplay capture. This bodes well for an even earlier reveal in September. This is much more than another launch for Naughty Dog, as it represents their first new IP in years and a bold step into unconventional territory.
Between some grey speculation from fans about the future of Uncharted and other possible revivals, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet seems to be the main focus for now. The next few weeks could provide the first real glimpse into how Naughty Dog’s industry-renowned design and cinematic style adapt to such a new sci-fi cosmos.
September is around the corner, and expectations are on the rise. PlayStation events in September are always a pleasant experience filled with a lot of surprises, and with an Intergalactic possible showcase around the corner, hype is kicking in very quickly. Truly, the question here is how much Sony and to what extent Naughty Dog will show out-and whether the reveal will at all satisfy fans who have been sitting eagerly since early rumors came in all those years ago.
Will Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet be next in line to be the legendary Naughty Dog title, or will the mystery linger a little longer when the lights go up at Sony’s September event? You may also be interested in: ARC Raiders Could Be the Biggest Surprise Game of 2025
