Intergalactic is on fire. After two weeks, criticism of Naughty Dog's trailer has not subsided

The unveiling of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet at The Game Awards generated immediate buzz, quickly turning into a firestorm of controversy.

The core of the backlash focused on the game's protagonist and overarching theme, with accusations of a hidden "agenda" surfacing from a segment of the gaming community.

Statements from Neil Druckmann and Tati Gabriel, intended to quell the rising tide of criticism, unfortunately backfired, intensifying the controversy.

Even after 17 days, the negative response persists. The announcement trailer sparked a significant divide, racking up an astounding number of dislikes on YouTube. On the official PlayStation channel, dislikes surpassed 260,000, dwarfing the 90,000 likes. The Naughty Dog channel fared no better, with over 170,000 dislikes outnumbering the 70,000 likes. Comment sections were disabled in an attempt to contain the fallout, but the debate continues to rage across other social media platforms.

However, the future of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remains uncertain. Naughty Dog's history demonstrates a capacity to transform initial negativity into triumph. The game still has the potential to defy expectations.

This incident underscores a significant challenge for large game studios: navigating the increasingly demanding expectations of their audience.