The gaming community has been buzzing with speculation ever since Naughty Dog unveiled its ambitious new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, at the 2024 Game Awards. While the event may not have delivered every dream announcement fans hoped for, the reveal of this sci-fi adventure from the creators of The Last of Us was a major highlight. The initial trailer offered glimpses of a mysterious, religion-infused narrative set on a single planet, but left many questions unanswered. One of the biggest lingering mysteries, however, has just been solved. Remember that cryptic hint from last year about the game's structure and player freedom? Well, the cat's finally out of the bag.

The mystery dates back to October 2024, when MinnMax host Ben Hanson teased a "juicy tidbit" about Naughty Dog's then-unannounced title. He hinted that the game would feature a significant amount of "player freedom" and was structurally similar to a certain acclaimed title, but he deliberately withheld the name. This led to widespread fan speculation, with the community's guesses primarily narrowing down to two modern classics known for their open-ended design: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring. For months, this remained an open question, fueling countless forum discussions and theory videos.

Fast forward to a recent 2026 episode of The MinnMax Show, where Hanson finally put the speculation to rest. When directly asked by a community member to clarify his earlier comments, Hanson confirmed the comparison was indeed to FromSoftware's landmark 2022 title, Elden Ring. He explained his initial reluctance to name the game, citing concerns about unrealistic expectations and potential backlash when the first trailer eventually dropped. "The expectations would have caused a lot of backlash," Hanson noted, acknowledging the weight such a comparison carries.

Now, with the game's premise clearer, Hanson suggests the comparison makes more sense. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is set on a single planet where the player's core objective is to investigate and uncover a profound mystery—specifically, "finding out what happened." This framework echoes the foundational loop of Elden Ring, where players explore the Lands Between, piecing together the history of the Shattering and the Greater Will from environmental clues, item descriptions, and cryptic NPC dialogues. The comparison, therefore, seems to be less about combat style (which remains unseen for Intergalactic) and more about the philosophical approach to world-building and player agency.

But what does "player freedom" in the vein of Elden Ring actually mean for a Naughty Dog game? Known for their cinematic, narrative-driven experiences with a strong directorial hand, this represents a potential seismic shift for the studio. Let's break down what these comparisons could imply for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet:

Key Aspects of Elden Ring-Style Freedom That Could Translate:

• 🗺️ Non-Linear Exploration: Instead of a strictly linear path, players might be able to tackle different regions of the planet in an order of their choosing, discovering story beats and challenges organically.

• 🔍 Environmental Storytelling: The core narrative of "what happened" could be uncovered primarily through exploring ruins, deciphering alien artifacts, and observing the world itself, rather than through extensive cutscenes.

• 🤔 Interpretive Narrative: The game might present its lore and themes in a fragmented way, requiring players to connect the dots and form their own interpretations of the central religious and cosmic mystery.

• ⚔️ Emergent Gameplay: Challenges and encounters could be designed with multiple solutions, allowing for different playstyles to overcome obstacles.

This revelation raises fascinating questions. How will Naughty Dog blend its signature character-driven storytelling with this more open, player-driven format? Will the game feature a silent protagonist to better facilitate player projection, or will it retain the strong, voiced characters the studio is famous for? The setting—a single planet with a deep mystery—is perfect for this kind of design. It provides a vast, interconnected playground for exploration while maintaining a focused narrative goal.

The confirmation also reframes the game's initial reveal. The trailer's emphasis on religious iconography and desolate, awe-inspiring landscapes now feels even more pointed. In Elden Ring, the world itself is a testament to fallen gods and broken ideologies. Could Intergalactic be aiming for a similar effect, using its sci-fi setting to explore themes of faith, dogma, and cosmic-scale catastrophe? The title The Heretic Prophet itself suggests a story about challenging established truths—a perfect fit for a game that asks players to become active investigators rather than passive observers.

Of course, comparisons are just that—comparisons. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is unlikely to be "Elden Ring in space." Naughty Dog will undoubtedly imprint its own unique identity on the structure. The core gameplay loop will likely be distinct, and the narrative density will probably be higher. However, the studio appears to be embracing a new design philosophy centered on trust in the player. It's a move that signals confidence and ambition.

As of 2026, with the game deep in development, this insight gives us a clearer lens through which to anticipate Naughty Dog's next evolution. The promise of an expansive, mystery-laden world that respects player intelligence and curiosity is an incredibly exciting prospect. It suggests a future where the emotional depth of a Naughty Dog story meets the exhilarating, self-directed discovery of a world like the Lands Between. The wait for more concrete details continues, but one thing is now certain: the journey in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is being built with a spirit of freedom directly inspired by one of the most influential games of the last decade. Isn't it fascinating to imagine how one studio's masterpiece can redefine the ambitions of another?