- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was shadow-dropped at TGA 2024.
- While it is the highly anticipated new IP from Naughty Dog, it received a lot of backlash due to DEI.
- That caused the developer to turn off the comments section on YouTube.
- The developer has a legendary legacy in the video games industry, so it might be digging its own grave with its new IP.
Naughty Dog is one of my favorite developers, and I have waited a long time for its new IP. The legacy it has built from its previous game is incredible, and I, among many other fans, am arguably hoping the studio will make a new game that lives up to its name.
However, it seems like the developer has taken a quite controversial turn. If you have watched the trailer of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, you know exactly what I am talking about.
Why it matters: The protagonist in a video game should be pleasing to the eye, whether it is a man or a woman. While Naughty Dog has managed to implement this idea in its previous games, it failed to do so in the upcoming one.
The Legendary Legacy of Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog is behind legendary franchises like Uncharted, Crash Bandicoot, and The Last of Us. You must have played at least one game among these franchises, as they are insanely good.
I have loved almost every single game this developer has ever released. While I had mixed feelings about TLOU2, I ultimately loved it. The studio really didn’t think that it was unthinkable with The Last of Us franchise, especially the first entry.
This isn’t just my opinion, as the majority of the fandom loved the franchise. Not only that, but it is also the most-awarded video game series of all time, and it totally deserves that.
With this, we can conclude that Naughty Dog has worked on some bangers and can continue doing so without forcing a narrative into its game, right? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, and I am afraid one of my favorite developers is losing track of what’s important.
Fans Are Upset, And The Developer Knows Why
It should be pretty clear by now that fans don’t appreciate forced inclusivity in games. That is a fact, and many recent games have failed because developers forced this narrative. Fans are now skeptical of any game that has Sweet Baby’s name attached to it.
So, that should be an eye-opener for everyone in the industry. They should now know who the actual fandom is and what it wants. The developer in question seems to have failed to realize this, and it will receive backlash for that; it is already receiving it.
Ever since Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was revealed to the public, it has been under constant fire. Gamers hate it due to its main character, and we all know why. The character, to be honest, doesn’t look feminine at all; it looks more like a man, and many other fans think so, too.
The backlash from the fandom was so massive that the developer was forced to turn off the comments section. Why did this happen? Why did it have to prevent the very public from commenting on the game? Because it knows fans aren’t liking it.
I have nothing against DEI in video games unless and until it isn’t forced. Cyberpunk 2077 is my favorite open-world video game, and it has some DEI elements. However, that doesn’t seem forced to me that much.
In Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the main character is causing a lot of controversy, and things are not going well.
In Development For 4 Years?
Naughty Dog has been developing this for 4 years, and it seems to have made some pretty bad decisions. I agree we haven’t seen much in-game, so it is too soon to judge anything, but isn’t the protagonist one of the core elements of a game?
This is why Japanese and Korean developers reach new heights after every game they release. Bayonetta, Eve, Tifa, Aerith, Ada, Leon, Clive, Cloud, Dante, and Vergil are all characters that are pleasing to look at.
Now, most gamers won’t say the same for the protagonist from Naughty Dog’s upcoming new game. I seriously hope the developer doesn’t follow this route with its other games, given how massive the anticipation is for The Last of Us Part 3.
It has already been criticized for releasing pointless remasters, so this new game won’t really paint a pretty picture.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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