Naughty Dog Faces Crunch Time Again for Upcoming Intergalactic Title Set for 2027 Release

Last year, the team behind The Last of Us shared a documentary detailing the development of the game’s 2020 sequel, which touched on the studio’s challenges with overwork and crunch. While the video concluded with a sense of improvement, it appears that the developers are encountering similar issues with their upcoming PS5 title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Reports indicate that the studio has mandated overtime for developers as they rush to finalize a demo of the sci-fi action game for Sony’s review, even though the release is still years away.

The overtime requirement reportedly started in October, with staff being asked to log at least eight extra hours each week on an internal spreadsheet. This push aimed to get production back on track after several missed deadlines, although developers were instructed not to exceed 60 hours of work per week.

Additionally, a new policy mandated that all employees return to the office five days a week at the Santa Monica studio, up from the usual three. Sources revealed that this change forced employees to arrange alternative care for their children and pets.

This situation follows earlier reports that the studio had brought in a new team of producers to help mitigate crunch issues. However, several of these producers have already left the company. While some team members worked overtime to complete Intergalactic’s debut trailer in 2024, the new overtime requirement has affected “most” of the staff.

Management has informed employees that the company plans to revert to the standard three-day in-office schedule in January, with more details expected after the holiday break. The report concludes with a somewhat ironic note, mentioning that the team received metal coins to commemorate the ongoing development, featuring a quote from the game: “The suffering of generations must be endured to achieve our divine end.”

Crunch reports at Naughty Dog have been prevalent for years, with the development of The Last of Us Part II being particularly infamous. In 2023, the studio let go of numerous contractors about a year before Intergalactic was officially announced at the 2024 Game Awards.