Just a few hours ago, the 10th edition of the Game Awards 2024 concluded in Los Angeles as it does every year. The ceremony took place from 1:30 AM to 5 AM French time and awarded Astro Bot as the Game of the Year (GOTY) for 2024. Nicolas Doucet, the game director, was visibly emotional while receiving the statuette and delivered a moving speech. The Game Awards also include numerous announcements and World Premieres, and this year, there were particularly many. Among these announcements, we learned about a new game from Naughty Dog led by Neil Druckmann. It is called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a sci-fi atmosphere game specifically developed for the PS5. While this news should have been exciting, an unexpected backlash has occurred since the event. The game is facing harsh criticism and negative reactions on YouTube. What exactly is happening? Let’s try to shed some light on this situation.
It has been four years since the release of Naughty Dog’s latest game, “The Last of Us Part 2,” which came out in 2020 during the lockdown period for PS4. This acclaimed title solidifies Naughty Dog’s position as one of the world’s premier gaming studios. Consequently, when news of a new project surfaces, there is significant anticipation and excitement within the community. Rumors had been circulating for several days about Naughty Dog’s involvement in the Game Awards ceremony, and these speculations were confirmed during the event. The studio then unveiled its newest game and franchise, marking their fifth major franchise after Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. The new title is called “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” and it appears that the narrative will take place in space on hostile planets located at the fringes of galaxies—a stark contrast to the studio’s previous works in the Uncharted and The Last of Us series.
At the 10th Game Awards 2024 in Los Angeles, Astro Bot was awarded Game of the Year (GOTY). During this event, Naughty Dog announced a new game titled “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” which is their fifth franchise following Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. Developed exclusively for PS5, this science fiction game represents Naughty Dog’s return to the gaming industry four years after “The Last of Us Part 2.” Despite high expectations, the announcement has unexpectedly encountered harsh criticism and dislikes on platforms such as YouTube, possibly due to the significant departure from their previously more grounded narrative styles.
Currently, Naughty Dog is keeping many aspects of the story under wraps, which is reasonable given the sensitive nature of game development. However, it has been confirmed that “Intergalactic” features Jordan A. Mun, a bounty hunter portrayed by Tati Gabrielle, who finds herself stranded on Sempiria, a distant planet cut off from external communication for centuries. In fact, all those who ventured there in search of its enigmatic history have never returned. Jordan must employ her full range of skills and intelligence if she is to become the first person to depart Sempiria after over 600 years. This outlines the basic premise of the game.Naughty Dog emphasizes that “Intergalactic” adheres to the studio’s long-standing tradition of crafting an emotionally compelling narrative centered on character development. While storytelling will be a crucial element, Naughty Dog prioritizes gameplay and leverages their extensive experience in recent years to deliver a top-tier gaming experience. Tati Gabrielle, who takes on the role of Jordan, was previously featured in the film “Uncharted” as Jo Braddock (an alternate version of Nadine Ross) and is set to appear in the 2025 release of “Mortal Kombat 2” as Jade, as well as Season 2 of HBO’s “The Last of Us.” It can be observed that Tati Gabrielle has already established herself within the Naughty Dog community.
At the 10th Game Awards 2024 in Los Angeles, Astro Bot was awarded Game of the Year (GOTY). During this event, Naughty Dog announced a new game titled “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” for PS5. This science fiction game represents Naughty Dog’s fifth franchise, following Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us series. The game stars bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun, played by Tati Gabrielle, who becomes stranded on an enigmatic planet named Sempiria. Alongside her is actor Kumail Nanjiani, known for his roles in “The Eternals,” the latest “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” and the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” While details about his character are not yet available, there’s speculation that he might play a laid-back figure akin to previous portrayals. However, it is also possible that director Neil Druckmann has given him an unconventional role. Additionally, Neil Druckmann announced that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the music for “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.” Development of this game began in 2020 and spans four years, making it the first title specifically developed for PS5. At present, no release date has been disclosed.
From Dislikes to Zero Hype: Can You Read…
Until now, everything seems fine; it is the new game from Naughty Dog, finally offering a fresh franchise after a long wait, so we should all be celebrating with champagne and excitement… But since its announcement just a few hours ago, the opposite reaction has emerged. On social media, people are not particularly enthusiastic about the proposal, and there is a frequent sentiment that the game does not generate genuine excitement, even among fans of the studio. Many individuals express disappointment with the proposed science fiction theme, which feels far from the studio’s established style, not to mention that for others, it seems like they have already seen this type of game countless times before. I have read comments suggesting that if it weren’t for the Naughty Dog logo, the announcement would have been quickly forgotten. Additionally, when observing the reactions of people in the Game Awards auditorium, the fervor is noticeably less intense. The ‘wow’ effect that Naughty Dog has traditionally generated with each of its games appears to be missing this time around. Of course, it’s still too early to draw definitive conclusions, and we can certainly trust the studio and its expertise, but we must acknowledge the facts as they are presented; the enthusiasm is less apparent compared to their previous project.
Upon reviewing the comments under the video on both Naughty Dog’s and PlayStation’s YouTube channels, it is evident that the reception has been unfavorable. On the PlayStation channel, there are 27,000 dislikes compared to 24,000 likes, while on Naughty Dog’s channel, 20,000 dislikes outweigh 19,000 likes. The Game Awards’ channel also shows a negative trend with 3,000 dislikes against 1,100 likes. This indicates that the audience is not satisfied with the game. In response to this negativity, Naughty Dog has disabled comments on their YouTube channel but remains active elsewhere. Additionally, prominent product placements for Porsche and Adidas have not been well-received by today’s discerning audience. Given the current era marked by ideological debates between “woke” and anti-“woke” factions, the nature of online discussions has become contentious. Some viewers perceive Naughty Dog as overly focused on diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) issues, a criticism that surfaced during the development of The Last of Us 2. Critics argue that the introduction of Jordan A. Mun, played by Tati Gabrielle, represents an aggressive push in this direction, with parallels drawn to Lev from The Last of Us 2 due to the character’s background and gender-neutral name.
Currently, Intergalactic is not meeting players’ expectations, suggesting that more effort is needed from the development team. However, considering Naughty Dog’s established expertise, talent, and reputation—as acknowledged by PlayersForLife—we remain confident in the potential for a high-quality game, particularly regarding its narrative, gameplay, and innovative elements. While the initial hype has not reached peak levels and there hasn’t been an immediate ‘wow’ factor, it would be premature to dismiss the game outright; Intergalactic is a product of Naughty Dog, specifically under the leadership of Neil Druckmann and Kurt Margenau as Game Director, who have previously demonstrated their exceptional skills…
