Summary
- Naughty Dog is entering new territory with Intergalactic, a departure from its traditional grounded franchises.
- Intergalactic may need more time for development to avoid competing with similar sci-fi games like Saros.
- Santa Monica’s rumored sci-fi game could pose a threat to Intergalactic’s release, highlighting the importance of timing for success.
Naughty Dog is stepping into uncharted territory with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, as the game not only features retro sci-fi aesthetics and themes, but it will also take players to an unknown universe in the distant future. This is a far cry from what the studio has done with its biggest franchises, The Last of Us and Uncharted, both of which are grounded and set in the present day. Despite Intergalactic being such a departure for Naughty Dog, the studio has nevertheless proven its ability to deliver compelling narratives and engaging gameplay, and Intergalactic is expected to be no different.
That being said, it may still need to consider spending a bit more time in the oven, simply due to its potential release window. Being a new IP and a sci-fi game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet may find itself releasing right in the middle of other titles like it, and while trends like this have been known to allow games to feed off each other, Intergalactic might still need more space between it and similar games. This is especially true if it hopes to stand out and make a lasting impression, and even more so if Naughty Dog wants to turn it into a full-blown franchise.
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Intergalactic May Need More Space Between It and Other Sci-Fi Projects
Housemarque’s Saros Is Expected to Launch in 2026
The first game Intergalactic may want to keep an eye out for is Saros, which is currently expected to launch sometime in 2026. Developed by Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, Saros is a loop-based game where each death transforms the world. Unlike traditional roguelikes, Saros makes progression permanent, allowing players to upgrade weapons and suits between runs, ensuring that every death gives them a chance to become stronger.
Despite Intergalactic being such a departure for Naughty Dog, the studio has nevertheless proven its ability to deliver compelling narratives and engaging gameplay, and Intergalactic is expected to be no different.
The key characteristics of Saros, however, are that it’s a sci-fi game as well as a PlayStation 5 exclusive — two characteristics that Intergalactic also shares. Given that Naughty Dog typically puts around four years between projects and 2022’s The Last of Us Part 1 for PC and PlayStation 5 was its most recent launch, it may be targeting a 2026 release date for Intergalactic, which could put it up against Saros. Thankfully, Saros and Intergalactic do have very distinct differences in their design, so that might be enough to set them apart. Even so, Intergalactic may still be better off avoiding Saros in the long run.
Santa Monica Reportedly Has a Sci-Fi Game in the Works
Something else that might give Intergalactic a run for its money is a rumored sci-fi game by God of War developer Santa Monica, which is also expected to be another PlayStation 5 exclusive. Reports have suggested that this project is set in a sci-fi fantasy world where humanity has reverted to a medieval-like era, with the narrative allegedly centering on a white female protagonist safeguarding a pivotal artifact from humanity’s golden age, all while the game’s antagonists attempt to summon a cosmic entity.
Given its description, Santa Monica’s rumored sci-fi game seems a bit closer to what Intergalactic may offer in terms of gameplay and story than Saros. In light of that, it may pose a greater threat to Intergalactic if the two games are released around the same time. The game has been rumored since 2019, which means it has potentially been in development for nearly six years at this point, so a release could happen sooner rather than later. Thankfully, since it is still only just a rumor and has yet to be revealed in any capacity, its launch may still be years away.
At the same time, if Santa Monica happens to announce its rumored sci-fi game at any point this year, that could put its release date in 2026, alongside Saros and, potentially, Intergalactic.
If Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet aims to make a name for itself, it needs to time its release well. While Naughty Dog’s history all but guarantees Intergalactic will be a polished and compelling experience, launching it in proximity to Saros or Santa Monica’s rumored sci-fi project could make standing out more difficult. A well-planned release window could ensure Intergalactic gets the attention it deserves rather than being overshadowed by similar titles.
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment