Intergalactic Demo Drives Overtime Hours

Overtime Hours and Return-to-Office Mandate at Naughty Dog for Intergalactic Demo

Naughty Dog, the studio behind the Uncharted and The Last of Us series, is developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a project described as larger in scope than their previous games and featuring a character named Jordan Mun battling a mecha. The game was announced in December 2024, but details have been scarce since then. According to anonymous sources who spoke to Bloomberg, Naughty Dog mandated overtime to complete a demo of Intergalactic for Sony after missing several deadlines. Starting in late October 2025, most developers were required to work at least eight additional hours per week, up to a maximum of 60 hours, for seven weeks. Simultaneously, the studio increased its in-office work week from three to five days. Bloomberg's sources indicated that this return-to-office mandate created difficulties for some employees, who had to make new arrangements for childcare and pet care. The mandatory overtime period concluded this week with the completion of the demo. While the team plans to return to a three-day in-office work week in January 2026, a schedule for potential future overtime has not been shared.

Naughty Dog's Overtime Concerns Rise with Intergalactic Demo Development (Mid-2027 Release)

Industry insider Jason Schreier has suggested an internal target release for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is mid-2027, which would make it Naughty Dog’s first new title in seven years. Bloomberg's sources suggest that, as the studio continues development, further overtime requests are likely, a prospect that is causing concern among employees.

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In gaming news, if you're eager to expand your library with top-notch titles at no cost, check out Jonathan Dubinski's recent post from December 14th. He highlights three outstanding games currently available for free on Steam, including 'Just Ignore Them', an indie horror gem perfect for fans of atmospheric storytelling ("Steam Offers Three Free Games, Two to Keep Forever, They're Excellent" Steam Offers Three Free Games, Two to Keep Forever, They're Excellent. Meanwhile, Bruce Straley departs from his usual high-stakes adventures with "Coven of the Chicken Foot", slated for PC. Join Sophie Laurent as she delves into this whimsical tale featuring Gertie, an old witch on a mission to prove herself ("Coven of the Chicken Foot: From Miyazaki to The Last Guardian, Bruce Straley's New Game" Coven of the Chicken Foot: From Miyazaki to The Last Guardian, Bruce Straley's New Game (The Last of Us, Uncharted)). Lastly, while we're reminiscing about gaming's golden era, Sophie Laurent reveals the rumblings of a Nintendo 64 classic preparing for its grand return. Saber Interactive promises a resurrection that's sure to stir up memories for old-timers and capture new fans alike ("A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked" A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked.