Naughty Dog’s next big release is Intergalactic, its first new IP in years. The sci-fi action-adventure stars Tati Gabrielle, who plays bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun, and though excited for the role, she’s also received backlash following its announcement.
As a result, director Neil Druckmann has been “boot-camping” her, especially following the backlash to The Last of Us Part 2. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Gabrielle said, “I know Troy [Baker]’s experience, I know Ashley [Johnson]’s experience… I know Laura Bailey’s experience.”
While acknowledging the praise received since Intergalactic’s reveal, Gabrielle reveals, “There was a lot of hate over me being a woman, me being a woman of colour, me having my head shaved, all these things that I didn’t even actually initially see.
“I’m out of the social media zeitgeist for that reason – but once I did, Neil [Druckmann] was like, ‘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.'”
Intergalactic is in development for PS5 and focuses on Mun, who ventures to and ends up stranded on Sempiria. No one has left the planet in 600 years, and it’s teeming with mysteries. Naughty Dog promises the “deepest gameplay” in the studio’s history, while Druckmann revealed Akira and Cowboy Bebop as inspirations.
While its gameplay remains to be revealed, it may be a long wait before release. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that it wouldn’t launch in 2026 and that the trailer at The Game Awards 2024 was a “very early” tease. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.
