Naughty Dog has posted a job opening for a Senior Game Designer (Combat)—more commonly referred to as a “Senior Combat Designer” on social media and in the media. The studio is seeking an experienced combat systems specialist in Santa Monica with a salary of $145,100–$181,400 per year. The job posting does not reveal the project, but the gaming community is almost unanimous in assuming it is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Dog’s new sci-fi game announced at The Game Awards. However, there are also alternative theories: rumors of a new Uncharted game and fans’ hopes for The Last of Us Part III.
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Senior Combat Designer Job at Naughty Dog: Terms and Salary
The job posting was posted on August 11, 2026, when the official Naughty Dog Jobs social media account announced the search for a specialist. The actual title is Senior Game Designer (Combat), but the shorter title, Senior Combat Designer, has become common in news and discussions.
Where to apply: The job posting is on the official Sony Careers website, located in Santa Monica, California. The work format is hybrid or office-based.
Salary: $145,100–$181,400 per year.
The responsibilities of the future employee are impressive: they will design enemy archetypes, develop their AI behavior, work closely with the animation, programming, and gameplay teams, monitor balance, organize testing, and assist junior designers.
The requirements are also rigorous: at least five years of industry experience, experience working on action-adventure or shooter games, knowledge of behavior trees, experience with Unreal Engine or Unity, proficiency in C# and Lua, and an understanding of narrative design.
The studio is looking for “someone who makes enemies.” At the same time, the conversation turns to a figure who will shape how players interact with the world of Naughty Dog’s new game. This is a significant reason why the vacancy has caused such a stir.
Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Uncharted and The Last of Us Projects
The main question on everyone’s mind is: what project are they looking for a designer for? The job posting does not provide a direct answer, but indirect signs point to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is a leading release candidate
The game was announced at The Game Awards and has been in development since 2020. Rumors point to a 2027 release. Hiring a Senior Combat Designer at a stage that requires designing enemy archetypes, AI behaviors, and balancing indicates that the game is in active production, not pre-production. This is a logical step for a studio preparing its first new IP in years.
New Uncharted Rumors and Probable Development Timeline
Rumors about a new Uncharted game have been regularly appearing in recent months. In May 2025, Naughty Dog CEO Neil Druckmann confirmed that the studio was working on another unannounced project in addition to Intergalactic. This project is rumored to be led by Shaun Escayg, game director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. However, the release is not expected until 2028–2029, and it is not certain that Naughty Dog, rather than Sony San Diego, is leading the development.
The Last of Us Part III: Prospects for a Third Part
Fans are still hoping for a full-fledged third installment of The Last of Us. However, there is no official confirmation. Druckmann has repeatedly stated that the studio has plans for the franchise, but there have been no concrete announcements. This hypothesis is the weakest of the three.
Conclusion: The vacancy is most likely related to Intergalactic. Rumors about Uncharted and The Last of Us Part III are more likely long-term prospects than a current task for the new employee.
Combat System and AI Features in Naughty Dog’s New Game
The designer requirements reveal much about the combat system in the new game.
Focus on Unique Enemies. The job posting explicitly mentions the creation of “enemy archetypes” and “unique opponents.” This means Naughty Dog is not limiting itself to standard enemy types—we can expect memorable, perhaps even narratively significant, enemies.
Deep AI work. Developing enemy behavior through behavior trees is a serious undertaking. Enemies will not just run and shoot, but adapt to player actions, work in groups, and utilize the environment.
Integration with Narrative. The requirement of “knowledge of narrative design” is an important marker. At Naughty Dog, combat has never been simply “mechanics.” In The Last of Us, gunfights and enemy encounters are always woven into the story. Judging by the job posting, the new project will be no different.
Experience with action-adventure and shooters. This is a clear indication of the genre. Intergalactic, judging by the announcement, will be a sci-fi action game with shooter elements—and the studio needs someone who knows how to make such games.
In short: Naughty Dog’s new game will feature a combat system that will be as sophisticated and emotionally charged as anything the studio has made before. Maybe even better.
Analyzing facts and rumors about the development of new Naughty Dog games
To avoid confusion, here’s a clear breakdown.
Confirmed:
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Senior Game Designer (Combat) position posted August 11, 2026.
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Salary: $145,100–$181,400.
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Location: Santa Monica, hybrid format.
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Duties and requirements (see above).
Rumors (not officially confirmed):
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Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet releases in 2027.
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A new Uncharted game is in development.
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The Last of Us Part III is in development.
Confirmed, but no details:
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Naughty Dog has a second unannounced project besides Intergalactic. Neil Druckmann announced this in May 2025. The nature of this project is unknown.
The Senior Combat Designer position at Naughty Dog is more than just a regular hiring announcement. It is a signal that Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is in active development, and the studio is recruiting key specialists for the final stages of production. Rumors of a 2027 release date are looking increasingly convincing.
For Naughty Dog fans, this means one thing: the wait for a new game from the studio is likely not that long. For now, we can only speculate about what enemies we will defeat, what combat systems await us, and whether the studio will manage to surprise us as much as Uncharted 2 and The Last of Us did.
