Naughty Dog, the studio behind acclaimed titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted, is reportedly mandating extra crunch time for its employees to prepare a demo for its upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Development staff have been asked to work an additional eight hours weekly, totaling a maximum of 60 hours per week, after missed deadlines delayed progress. Alongside this increase in work hours, teams must now work five days in the office instead of three, which has impacted their personal lives, including childcare arrangements. This mandatory overtime began in late October and concluded recently, while Naughty Dog aims to release the game by mid-2027.

Despite past criticisms of crunch culture, Naughty Dog has assured that employee well-being remains a priority. Neil Druckmann, one of the studio’s co-presidents, stated that they continue to seek ways to improve working conditions to reduce stress and burnout among staff. The game announced at the end of 2024 features a bounty hunter named Jordan A Mun, played by Tati Gabrielle, and explores themes of faith and religion.

What is the release date for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet?

The game is currently projected to release in mid-2027.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is set to be Naughty Dog's most ambitious project yet, showcasing a retro-futuristic aesthetic and tackling deeper narrative themes. With significant anticipation building since its announcement, the studio is under pressure to deliver a game that matches the high standards set by its previous titles.