Naughty Dog dev warns: Edit “Heretic Prophet” to avoid Last of Us 2
In the high-stakes world of video game development, where ambition often clashes with timelines, some veteran designers are sounding the alarm about a persistent, frustrating trend: the prolonged, often drawn-out production periods. The latest installment from Naughty Dog, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, is currently six years into production, and for some industry insiders, this timeline raises serious questions about the sustainable structure of major game studios.
Benson Russell, a former designer for the acclaimed series including Uncharted and PlayStation, believes this pace is not sustainable. As a game development consultant, Russell suggests that studios like Naughty Dog should be urged to manage their projects with more efficiency, free from the scope creep and siloed teams that often plague the industry.
The concern extends beyond Naughty Dog’s internal schedule. Russell points to a broader industry problem where major titles are dragging their feet. Projects like Fable have been delayed years past their original announcements, and high-profile remakes, such as Max Payne, remain under construction for years. This collective sluggishness highlights a systemic issue that impacts all developers.
Russell suggests that this prolonged development is often a symptom of an inability to map a concise story to engaging gameplay. He calls the lengthy process of creating The Heretic Prophet a sort of “another Last of Us 2 situation”—a struggle to condense narrative ambition into playable content. He argues that these multi-year projects risk becoming messy, susceptible to frustration, as changes in teams, technology, and scope inevitably lead to rework.
To combat this development inertia, Russell offers a clear directive for developers: define the vision early and solidify the creative “North Star” from the very beginning. He advises that even if massive projects require extensive development, cutting two years—or more—off the timeline is achievable by establishing firm boundaries upfront. This approach helps mitigate the risks associated with external pressures and internal shifting, allowing teams to deliver their intended vision without excessive waste.
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