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| Key art for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Dog’s upcoming sci-fi project. |
By Juli Scarr
Developers at Naughty Dog were reportedly asked to work mandatory overtime in recent weeks as the studio worked to complete an internal demo for its upcoming sci-fi game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
The claim comes from a new report published by Bloomberg, which says employees were instructed to work at least eight additional hours per week, with total working time capped at 60 hours. According to the report, this period of overtime began in late October and ran for roughly seven weeks, ending earlier this month.
Neither Naughty Dog nor Sony Interactive Entertainment commented on the claims when contacted by Bloomberg.
Overtime Reportedly Tied to Internal Demo Milestone
According to Bloomberg, employees were asked to work additional hours to help finalize an internal demo of Intergalactic. Sources cited in the report said the overtime push was an attempt to bring production back on track after several missed internal deadlines related to the demo.
Staff were reportedly instructed to log their overtime hours in an internal tracking spreadsheet. The people who spoke with Bloomberg requested anonymity, noting they were not authorized to discuss internal development matters publicly.
The report does not indicate that the overtime was related to an external deadline or public showcase. Instead, it was described as a focused effort tied to an internal milestone.
Temporary Changes to In-Office Work
In addition to longer working hours, Bloomberg reports that employees were asked to return to the office five days a week during the overtime period. This marked a shift from the studio’s usual three-day in-office schedule.
According to the report, the change disrupted some employees’ existing routines, including childcare and pet care arrangements. Management reportedly told staff that the five-day requirement would end in January, with the studio returning to its previous hybrid schedule.
These changes were described as temporary and linked specifically to the demo push.
Limited Public Details on Intergalactic
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was first revealed during The Game Awards 2024 with a cinematic trailer. Since that reveal, Naughty Dog has shared little additional information about the project.
Studio head Neil Druckmann later said the game explores themes of faith and religion, though gameplay details, platforms, and a release window have not been announced. The internal demo referenced in the Bloomberg report has not been shown publicly.
Crunch Remains a Broader Industry Issue
While mandatory overtime was once widely accepted across game development, it has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Many studios have publicly committed to improving work-life balance, even as reports of intense development periods continue to emerge.
Naughty Dog has previously been part of those conversations. In 2021, then co-president Evan Wells addressed questions about crunch by acknowledging his own long working hours earlier in his career, comments that drew criticism as industry attitudes continued to shift.
The Bloomberg report does not suggest the recent overtime reflects a permanent policy change at the studio. Instead, it describes a defined period tied to a specific internal goal, with some temporary measures already set to roll back.
Still, the situation highlights how easily long hours can resurface during high-pressure moments, even as studios attempt to move away from traditional crunch practices.
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