Some game titles are instant classics, rolling off the tongue and embedding themselves in the cultural consciousness. Others, like Naughty Dog's upcoming space game, seem destined to be forgotten just moments after hearing them. The game, which was first revealed at The Game Awards several years ago, has proven to be a particular challenge for some to recall, even within the industry.
This difficulty in remembering the game's name recently surfaced during discussions about Sony's discontinuation of physical game discs starting in 2028 and what upcoming PlayStation titles might become digital-only. When considering titles from Sony's internal studios, Naughty Dog's next project came to mind, only for its name to elude immediate recall.
The game's full title, "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet," has been met with a mixed reception, primarily due to its lack of memorability and a subtitle that some find less than impactful. The primary concern is that players will shorten it to simply "Intergalactic," a word that is neither easy to pronounce nor simple to search for online. This stands in contrast to more memorable titles like "The Last of Us," developed by the same studio.
Naming a video game is a significant challenge. Developers aim for titles that are distinct enough to be searchable, avoiding the pitfalls of common words like "Control," which can lead to an abundance of irrelevant search results. Conversely, overly long and complex titles, such as "Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Birth By Sleep 0.2 A Fragmentary Passage," can also be a deterrent. "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet" appears to be navigating this naming tightrope with limited success, at least in terms of immediate recall.
Despite the perceived issues with its title, the game itself has been described as looking nice, and its developers at Naughty Dog are reportedly working hard on its development. The hope is that the game's quality will eventually help solidify its name in the minds of players, overcoming any initial hurdles presented by its less-than-catchy moniker. For now, it seems the game is destined to be a recurring memory test for those who follow PlayStation's upcoming releases.