Crunch is once again in the spotlight at Naughty Dog, a studio that has long been synonymous with prestige PlayStation blockbusters—and recurring debate about the human cost of making them. A new report claims staff have been working mandatory overtime for weeks to prepare an internal demo of the studio’s next game, raising fresh questions about whether the industry’s most public promises to reduce crunch have translated into lasting change.
According to Rock Paper Shotgun’s reporting, developers at Naughty Dog have been crunching for roughly seven weeks to complete an internal demonstration of its newly revealed sci-fi action project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, for Sony. The claim frames the push as a deadline-driven effort to get a presentable slice in front of PlayStation leadership—often a pivotal moment in big-budget development, where scope, staffing, and timelines can be reaffirmed or redirected based on what’s shown.
Naughty Dog’s history with crunch
Naughty Dog’s past projects, including Uncharted and The Last of Us, have repeatedly been cited in broader conversations about crunch culture in AAA development. Over the years, developers across the industry have described the demo pipeline—vertical slices, milestone reviews, and marketing beats—as especially prone to overtime, since teams are pressured to polish content that may not represent the game’s final structure but must still look and play “ship-ready.”
That context is why this report matters beyond a single studio: when an industry-leading team is still allegedly leaning on extended overtime for internal deliverables, it suggests structural incentives remain entrenched. Internal demos can be vital for securing resources and aligning priorities, but they can also become artificial finish lines that trigger repeated bursts of unsustainable work—particularly around the holidays.
What it could mean for Intergalactic
If the reported crunch is accurate, it may also signal that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is in a phase where Sony expects clearer proof of progress and direction. For a major first-party game, internal showings can influence everything from target release windows to staffing ramp-ups—and a high-pressure demo sprint can be an early indicator of ambitious scope.
At the same time, crunch rarely stays confined to a single milestone. Teams that burn time and energy to “hit the demo” often need recovery time afterward, and without changes to planning, that cycle can repeat at each major review. For players, that can translate into delays, reduced iteration, or staff turnover that affects continuity and morale.
Ultimately, this report adds to the growing tension between blockbuster expectations and sustainable production. Sony and Naughty Dog have built their reputations on meticulous, high-craft releases—but if that craft still depends on repeated overtime bursts, the conversation will continue shifting from “how impressive is the demo” to “what did it cost to make it.”