In the gaming world, some productions can create a huge buzz before they even hit the shelves. Naughty Dog’s highly anticipated new project “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” is one of these games. However, with the game’s introduction, lead actress Tati Gabrielle became the target of serious criticism on social media due to her character’s gender, skin tone and hairstyle. This situation brings to mind similar controversies Naughty Dog experienced with “The Last of Us Part II” in 2020 and raises concerns that the studio may face this kind of social pressure once again.
Gabrielle Makes Candid Statements, Support From Naughty Dog
Tati Gabrielle openly evaluated this unpleasant process in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She stated that although she received positive feedback after the game's first introduction in December 2024, an intense hate speech began against her with the announcement of the cast. Gabrielle said, "Being a woman, being a woman of color, having a shaved head... I received negative comments because of all of these. I didn't notice them at first because I stay away from social media, but I was surprised when I saw them."
During this difficult process, Naughty Dog's head Neil Druckmann gave Tati Gabrielle direct and strong support. Gabrielle stated that Druckmann told her, "Don't care about any of them. We will do something together that we will be proud of," and emphasized that the team stood together against such negativities. It was also stated that Druckmann informed Gabrielle in advance about similar incidents that had occurred in the studio's previous projects and prepared her for such reactions.
Will “The Last of Us Part II” Trauma Happen Again?
Another important reference Gabrielle made in her interview was the sad events experienced by Laura Bailey, who played the character Abby in the game “The Last of Us Part II.” Bailey received serious threats at the time because of the character she played, and even her family became targets. Tati Gabrielle openly stated that she stepped into this project knowing that a similar wave of hatred could occur again. This situation unfortunately reveals once again how deep the toxic behavior and discriminatory attitudes seen in some gaming communities go.
Gabrielle is excited to be part of the Naughty Dog family
Tati Gabrielle, who previously starred in the film “Uncharted” and currently plays Nora in HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The Last of Us,” has further strengthened her bond with Naughty Dog with “Intergalactic.” The talented actress expressed her great excitement to be involved in this project and expressed her belief that “Intergalactic” will be one of the most important productions that will make a splash in the gaming world. However, it seems that this time, it is not just the game itself, but also the unfortunate discussions surrounding it that will continue to be talked about for a long time. It is of great importance for the gaming world to overcome such discriminatory approaches and respect the freedom of artistic expression in order to create a healthier environment for future projects and players.
