Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet vs Iron Man: gameplay, story and release window compared

Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet and Iron Man are two upcoming superhero-adjacent action games that could not be further apart in origin: one is a brand-new sci-fi IP from Naughty Dog, the other a Marvel-licensed adaptation from EA Motive. One is a confirmed PS5 exclusive, the other’s platform set is not yet confirmed. One has wrapped its principal performance capture, the other has leaked early gameplay footage. Both are still without official release dates, but the sources point to very different stages of development.

What they are

Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet is Naughty Dog’s first entirely new franchise since The Last of Us. It was formally revealed in December 2024, directed by studio co-president Neil Druckmann. The game is set 2,000 years in the future, in an alternate timeline that diverged from real-world history in the late 1980s following the emergence of a new, influential religion. The player takes the role of Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter portrayed by Tati Gabrielle (The 100, The Last of Us series), who crash-lands on the distant planet Sempiria. The planet has been cut off from all contact with the outside universe for roughly 600 years, and no one who has travelled there has ever escaped. Jordan is equipped with a gun and a laser sword and must become the first person to leave Sempiria’s orbit in six centuries. Naughty Dog has described the game as featuring its “wildest, most creative story yet” and the “deepest gameplay” of any game in its history. The studio has also said the game is intended to kick-start a franchise.

Iron Man is an action-adventure game developed by EA Motive, first announced in 2022 through a partnership between Electronic Arts and Marvel. The leaked footage shows a build that is clearly a work-in-progress, with placeholder assets and unfinished cutscenes, but the game appears to be set primarily in Chicago, not New York City, with additional locations including Japan and a SHIELD Helicarrier. The story features Tony Stark and a cast of characters drawn from Marvel Comics rather than the MCU, including Pepper Potts, James Rhodes, Obadiah Stane, Henry Pym, Madame Masque, Iron Monger, and what appears to be Ultron and Yellowjacket. The leaked footage shows a snarky, charismatic Tony Stark, and the game’s combat is described as being informed by the Batman Arkham and Marvel’s Spider-Man games, with an extra layer of Iron Man-specific abilities.

Gameplay

Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet is described as a sci-fi action game. The player controls bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun, who uses a gun and a laser sword to fight enemies on the alien planet Sempiria. Naughty Dog has stated the game has the “deepest gameplay” of any of its titles, but the sources provide no further details on mechanics, progression, or structure. The game is heavily inspired by the manga and anime series Cowboy Bebop, as indicated by Naughty Dog’s social media post that included the line “See you, space cowboy…”

Iron Man’s leaked footage shows a game focused on flight and combat. The flight system appears to borrow ideas from the cancelled game Anthem, with the player zipping around a city using jet boots. Combat includes smashing enemies into the ground, throwing them, and using missiles and lasers while hovering. The game also shows a suit customization system: the player can adjust Tony Stark’s armor with various weapons, including homing missiles. The customization mechanics are described as being inspired by Resident Evil’s inventory management and Dead Space’s node-based suit upgrades, with multiple suit options teased in the background while Stark tinkers with one on a mannequin. The footage suggests the player will have multiple suits to choose from, similar to Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, and may be able to tweak and customize them.

Content and story

Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet’s story is set in an alternate timeline where a new religion emerged in the late 1980s. The protagonist Jordan A. Mun is a bounty hunter on a mission to capture a legendary crime syndicate, but she becomes stranded on Sempiria. The planet has been isolated for 600 years, and Jordan must use her skills to escape. Naughty Dog has kept most story details under wraps, and the sources do not reveal any additional characters or plot points beyond this premise.

Iron Man’s leaked footage shows a more established cast of characters from Marvel Comics. The story appears to involve Tony Stark facing multiple villains, including Madame Masque, Iron Monger, and what appears to be Ultron and Yellowjacket. The game is set in Chicago rather than New York, and includes locations such as Japan and a SHIELD Helicarrier. The leaked footage includes cinematic scenes with Pepper Potts and James Rhodes, and the game’s take on Tony Stark is described as having the charisma of a stereotypical Stark, even in an unfinished build.

Platforms and performance

Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet is confirmed as a PS5 exclusive. The sources do not mention any other platforms. The game’s development timeline: Naughty Dog confirmed that principal performance capture wrapped in August 2026. For comparison, The Last of Us Part II completed its motion-capture shoot in April 2019 and was released in June 2020, roughly 14 months later, with COVID-19 disruptions. If Intergalactic follows a similar timeline, a release in the second half of 2027 is plausible. Insider NateTheHate2 has previously claimed sources point to a 2027 target, and the same source has more recently suggested the game might aim for the second half of 2027. Naughty Dog and Sony have not announced a release date or window.

Iron Man’s platforms are not confirmed in the sources. The leaked footage is from a build watermarked “AUG26 TEST” and contains placeholder assets, indicating the game is still in early development. EA Motive has been quiet about the project since its 2022 announcement, amid multiple rounds of EA layoffs and project cancellations. The sources do not provide any release window or target date. EA did not comment on the leaked footage beyond a social media post that said “Well, that didn't go as planned. But now you know, and we've got a lot more to show you. See you when we’re ready.”

Price and value

Neither game has a confirmed price. The sources do not mention any pricing, editions, or monetisation models for either title.

Which one to pick

Pick Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet if you are a fan of Naughty Dog’s narrative-driven action games and want a completely new sci-fi universe with a heavy emphasis on story and character, and if you own a PS5. The game appears to be further along in development, with performance capture complete and a plausible 2027 target.

Pick Iron Man if you are a Marvel fan who wants to fly around a city as Tony Stark, customise suits, and fight a rogues’ gallery of classic villains. The leaked footage suggests the flight and combat could be a major draw, but the game is at an earlier stage of development and has no confirmed release window or platforms.

What is still unconfirmed

For Intergalactic: the Heretic Prophet, no release date, price, or gameplay footage beyond the reveal trailer have been shown. The 2027 target is speculative and based on historical comparisons and unconfirmed insider reports. The full cast of characters, the scope of the game world, and the nature of its gameplay systems are not detailed in the sources.

For Iron Man, the platforms, release date, price, and final design are all unconfirmed. The leaked footage is from an early build and may not represent the final game. EA Motive has not officially revealed any gameplay, and the project’s development status is unclear beyond the existence of the leak. The game’s story, full character roster, and customisation depth are not officially confirmed.