The Game Awards 2024 was a rollercoaster ride of revelations, even if some of the most anticipated games were once again missing. Instead, Naughty Dog provided a surprise: with "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet", the studio dares to the step into science fiction for the first time.
From fantasy to sci-fi: Naughty Dog's surprising twist
But what exactly can we expect in this new title? Not much is known, except that religion will play a central role. The most exciting revelation has now come from Ben Hanson from MinnMax. Back in October 2024, he hinted that "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" would offer remarkable freedom of play and be structurally similar to a well-known game. Now it's clear: this game is "Elden Ring".
Hanson explained in the latest episode of the MinnMax Show that he had deliberately held back at the time to avoid raising expectations too high. But now, after the official unveiling, the cat is out of the bag: Naughty Dog's sci-fi epic apparently relies on an open structure and playful freedom similar to FromSoftware's masterpiece. "If I had said back then that Naughty Dog's next game would be like Elden Ring, the discussion would have developed in unexpected directions"says Hanson.
Player freedom à la "Elden Ring"
But what does that mean in concrete terms? "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" is set on a single planet where the player has to unravel the events. This openness is reminiscent of "Elden Ring", where you also move freely through a mysterious world and decide for yourself which paths to follow. However, it remains to be seen whether the combat system or the exploration is also based on FromSoftware's hit.
Naughty Dog is known for its narrative density, which promises an exciting mix: the freedom of "Elden Ring" paired with the cinematic staging of "The Last of Us" or "Uncharted". It remains to be seen how this will fit together, but the comparison with one of the biggest games of recent years alone arouses curiosity.
Whether "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" really will end up being an "Elden Ring" in space or whether it will find its own identity remains to be seen. Naughty Dog is venturing into new territory - and this is likely to generate plenty of discussion. In any case, the final game is still a long way from being finalized, which, according to Naughty Dog, is still in development. is in a constant state of change.
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