Naughty Dog’s newest IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, blends together so many radical things that we love, it is hard to express anything other than excitement when merely thinking about it, despite knowing very little about the game itself at present. Even writing about it now, I can’t help but imagine a blend of retro-futuristic tech and fashion aesthetics and sci-fi space exploration and intense combat that scratches every gaming itch I could possibly want scratched.
Upon seeing the announcement trailer for the first time, my mind immediately went to CyberPunk meets Guardians of the Galaxy with a hybrid of Naughty Dog’s signature combat and movement along with the spice of something new, considering the use of the laser sword this time around. Plus, you know, the whole fighting robots thing.
Since its initial unveiling a few months ago, Naughty Dog has maintained a high level of secrecy surrounding Intergalactic. Aside from the debut trailer, the studio provided some additional insights through an accompanying blog post, but little else has surfaced since then.
What is confirmed is that Intergalactic introduces an original intellectual property featuring a brand-new protagonist, Jordan A. Mun. This formidable bounty hunter finds herself stranded on Sempiria, a remote planet that lost all contact with the universe centuries ago. Any individual who has attempted to reach the planet in search of answers has mysteriously vanished without a trace. If Jordan hopes to be the first person in over six centuries to escape its grasp, she will need to rely on every ounce of her expertise and intelligence.
One particular detail from their blog post caught my attention—the choice of the word universe instead of something like galaxy. While a galaxy is already vast, using universe suggests that the game’s scale might be far greater than we currently realize. I may be overanalyzing, but that specific word stood out to me more than anything else in their post. Just something to consider.
Jordan A. Mun will be portrayed by the talented Tati Gabrielle, who headlines an impressive cast. Observant viewers of the reveal trailer may have already recognized some of the additional actors, with Kumail Nanjiani being among the most easily spotted. Further cast details will be disclosed in the future.
An interstellar adventure of this scale demands an equally captivating soundtrack, and Naughty Dog has enlisted the expertise of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to compose the score. The duo’s musical contributions, which can be heard in the trailer, serve as a mere glimpse of the work they are crafting for the game.
While Naughty Dog remains committed to keeping further story details under wraps for now, the studio assures players that Intergalactic upholds its legacy of delivering deeply emotional, character-driven narratives. The ambition behind the game’s storytelling is matched only by its gameplay evolution, with the development team striving to craft the most intricate and immersive mechanics in the company’s history. By drawing from the experience gained through previous franchises, Intergalactic is set to push the boundaries of what Naughty Dog has accomplished before.
Although fans are eager for more information, the developers emphasize that their focus remains on refining Jordan’s journey. While further updates will come in due time, the team at Naughty Dog expresses gratitude for the continued enthusiasm and support from their audience, as it enables them to bring these ambitious new worlds and characters to life. Still, with so little information and only a splash of gameplay, we are eager to know more about the game’s and Naughty Dog’s ambitions. Presumably, the game will release as a PS5 exclusive before eventually coming to PC six months to a year later. Here’s hoping we get more details soon.
