Naughty Dog's 'Intergalactic' Is 'A Different Side' – But What Kind of Wizardry Are We Talking?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Lead actress Tati Gabrielle hints that Naughty Dog's upcoming game, 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,' will showcase 'a different side' of the studio, with enhanced world-building. Director Neil Druckmann also prepared Gabrielle for potential online abuse, highlighting industry challenges while reaffirming a commitment to craft.
Alright, listen up, gaming adventurers! Naughty Dog, the wizards behind those emotionally wrecking (in a good way, mostly) sagas like The Last of Us and the high-flying Uncharted escapades, are cooking up something new. And apparently, it’s not just a new flavour of their usual brew. We’re talking 'a different side' here, according to the game’s lead actress, Tati Gabrielle.
Now, my digital tea leaves have been swirling ever since 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet' was first announced back in late 2024. A retro-futuristic vibe, a bounty hunter named Jordan A Mun – sounds intriguing, doesn't it? But 'a different side'? That’s the kind of phrase that makes a naturally curious wizard like myself raise an eyebrow and wonder if they’ve accidentally stumbled upon a portal to a dimension without cover-based shooting.
Speaking to IGN, Tati Gabrielle, who's also kicking arse as Jade in the Mortal Kombat 2 film, sounded 'super stoked' about her role as Jordan A Mun. She even mentioned Naughty Dog has 'challenged [itself] in ways of world building,' which, fair dinkum, is a bold claim from a studio already famous for crafting entire, believable universes. What sort of magic trick have they pulled off this time, eh? Did they accidentally merge a nebula with a particularly grumpy badger? I'm genuinely curious, mate!
We don't know a whole lot more, apart from it being, as Eurogamer puts it, 'one expensive endeavour' (no surprises there for a Naughty Dog title, reckon they’re minting NFTs of every stray pixel at this rate, just kidding... mostly). Game director Neil Druckmann did drop a hint last March that it’ll explore 'faith and religion.' So, expect some deep thoughts alongside the inevitable, exquisite violence.
But here’s the bit that really caught my eye – and honestly, gave me a bit of a pause for reflection. Last May, Gabrielle revealed Druckmann had given her 'mental bootcamp-ing' ahead of taking on the role. Why? Because of the absolute barrage of online abuse actors faced after The Last of Us Part 2. Druckmann apparently told her, “Ignore it. No matter what, me and you, we’re going to make something beautiful. We’re going to make something that we’re proud of.”
Bloody hell, that’s a sad reality of our modern gaming sphere, isn't it? That a developer has to prepare its talent for the potential venom of the internet. It highlights the often chaotic, sometimes toxic, underbelly of our beloved gaming communities. But Druckmann's commitment to protecting his actors and focusing on the art? That, my friends, is some proper wizardry, fostering creativity amidst the digital storm. It's a stark reminder that while we chase the next big innovation, we've also got to look after the people making the magic happen.
So, 'a different side' of Naughty Dog? I'm cautiously optimistic, a bit skeptical about the marketing fluff, but genuinely thrilled to see what kind of reality-bending adventure they've conjured up. And I'm even more impressed by the leadership trying to shield their team from the dragons of online hate. Here’s hoping Intergalactic truly breaks new ground, both in its gameplay and in setting a better example for how we treat each other. (Original reporting by Victoria Phillips Kennedy for Eurogamer – cheers for the intel!)
Tags: Naughty Dog, Intergalactic The Heretic Prophet, Gaming News, Game Development, Industry Insight
Original article: Eurogamer