Naughty Dog's Intergalactic Will Skip TGA, And the Next Year

Reports claim Naughty Dog’s new sci-fi IP Intergalactic won’t appear at The Game Awards 2025 and isn’t planned for a 2026 release, hinting at a long wait for PS5 fans.

Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Reportedly Delayed Past 2026

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will skip The Game Awards 2025, according to new reports
Reliable sources say the game is not planned for a 2026 release
This stretches the gap since Naughty Dog last shipped a brand-new IP

Naughty Dog’s next original title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, is shaping up to be a slow burn. New reports suggest the studio won’t show the game at The Game Awards 2025, and it isn’t expected to release in 2026 either. That’s a sizeable delay for anyone waiting for the studio’s first fresh universe since The Last of Us. With its sci-fi setting, spiritual themes and a new cast, the project looked like a landmark moment for the PS5 era. Now it seems fans will need patience, and Sony will have to rethink its first-party calendar.

What we currently know about Intergalactic

The project first appeared at The Game Awards in December 2024, setting the tone for a sharp turn away from the studio’s grounded stories. It follows Jordan A. Mun, played by actor Tati Gabrielle, a bounty hunter trapped on Sempiria — a planet that lost contact with the wider universe centuries ago. Neil Druckmann described the game as an exploration of faith and belief systems rather than the grief-driven emotional weight of The Last of Us. That alone hints at a different kind of narrative ambition.

Revealed December 2024
Stars Tati Gabrielle as the lead character
Takes place on an isolated planet cut off from the galaxy
Themes focus on faith and religion, not post-apocalyptic survival

The early reveal showed a confident pitch: new world-building, a fresh protagonist and a story direction that doesn’t lean on past successes. It felt like the most experimental thing Naughty Dog has attempted in a decade, with the potential to set up a full sci-fi franchise if it lands well.

Why reports claim the game is delayed

Industry journalists Jeff Grubb and Jason Schreier have both stated that Intergalactic will not appear at The Game Awards in 2025 and isn’t expected to release in 2026. Neither Sony nor Naughty Dog have confirmed this publicly, but both reporters have strong track records with development timelines.

No Game Awards 2025 appearance
Not planned for a 2026 release
No official studio comment yet
Suggests the game still needs significant work

A delay on a brand-new IP from a studio known for perfectionism isn’t surprising. New tech, new systems and new storytelling frameworks often require more experimentation than sequels. And with expectations sky-high after The Last of Us Part II, the team cannot afford to release something that feels half-formed.

Why taking longer might make sense

A new sci-fi IP from Naughty Dog comes with massive scope. The studio is known for building dense environments, heavy cinematic systems and tight combat that all need to work flawlessly together. Doing that within an unfamiliar genre raises the workload.

A new world demands more art, design and narrative iteration
Rumours suggest Sony may be pacing releases closer to next-gen hardware
Skipping major shows reduces pressure to show imperfect builds
Big-budget single-player games take longer each generation

If Sony aims for a PlayStation 6 window around late-2027 or beyond, delaying Intergalactic could help position it as a cross-gen showcase or even a launch-period title. And if Naughty Dog wants to define the next era of PlayStation storytelling, they need enough breathing room to build systems that can survive the next hardware cycle.

What the delay means for players and PlayStation

Fans will be waiting even longer for something truly new from the studio. Since the PS5 launched, Naughty Dog has focused on remasters and ports rather than a fresh blockbuster. This increases the pressure on Intergalactic to justify the long wait — and raises questions about Sony’s first-party line-up during this lull.

Longer wait for a new Naughty Dog universe
Fewer first-party tentpoles for Sony in the near term
Higher expectations for story and production values
Opens the door for competitors to fill the prestige-single-player gap

For the UAE audience, where PlayStation has a strong presence and blockbuster releases shape regional sales trends, longer gaps between marquee exclusives can shift interest toward multi-platform titles or games with ongoing live-service support.

Is the delay officially confirmed?

No. The information comes from reporters Jeff Grub and Jason Schreier, who say the game won't appear at The Game Awards 2025 and isn't planned for 2026.