Naughty Dog's Trouble Deepens as Tati Gabrielle's Controversial Remarks Alienate The Very Audience Set To Purchase Their Game...
Naughty Dog’s latest project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, has ignited a firestorm in the gaming community, but not for the reasons any developer would hope. Well, actually, scratch that - It's Naughty Dog, so who knows.
...They've lost their collective minds years ago.
Lead actress Tati Gabrielle’s recent social media post (above) on her Instagram (now deleted) has only added fuel to the ever-expanding fire, with gamers vowing to close their wallets long before the game’s release - Hell, even long before we even get more information about the game itself.
The image depicts an artist's rendition of Gabrielle, who plays the character of "Jordan" in Intergalactic, alongside Ciri from The Witcher series, sipping on 'Incel Tears', and even goes so far as to joke about the DEI involvement with Naughty Dog, calling it DEI-licious...
For a studio already struggling to regain trust after The Last of Us Part II situation that resulted in copyright striking YouTube channels for daring to speak about it before they wanted them to... This now latest controversy is a damaging blow that underscores the growing rift between developers and the gamers looking to potentially purchase the game.
Gabrielle’s “You Mad Bro?” Moment Sparks Outrage
The uproar began when Gabrielle shared fan art depicting her character enjoying a drink labeled “Fragile Masculini-Tea” alongside a quip aimed at critics: “You mad bro?” her flippant response to legitimate gamer concerns was widely criticized as tone-deaf and emblematic of a deeper disconnect between creators and gamers.
Gabrielle, who's now getting to be well-known for her outspoken gender politics and activism, has a history of incendiary remarks. As I mentioned in my original coverage of this situation (thx @Grummz for the source), in a previous interview, she championed the notion that gender identity is important and how she wants to get to the kids first to educate them properly...
Her sick views, IMHO, combined with her recent post on Instagram, have alienated a significant portion of the gaming community.... and rightfully so.
The Backlash Against Naughty Dog
The controversy surrounding Gabrielle isn’t happening in isolation. As I spoke about in the open, Naughty Dog's been on thin ice with gamers since the release of The Last of Us Part II, a title that faced widespread criticism for the clear pandering directly to LGBTQ agendas. Fans had been particularly upset by misleading promotional material back then, which originally portrayed Joel as a central character only to have him (incoming spoilers - but not really at this point...) removed early in the game.
The backlash against Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reflects a broader overall dissatisfaction with Naughty Dog’s creative choices and direction. The game’s initial trailer, met with over a quarter million (251,000) dislikes compared to just under 100,000 likes (97k at the time of writing), showcases the community’s extreme discontent.
Comments on Naughty Dog's trailer were disabled too, a preemptive move by Naughty Dog to avoid the onslaught of criticism they undoubtedly anticipated... Not the best look. Add to that - Naughty Dog posted a Christmas card picture on X, just to begin mass hiding replies they didn't like. I covered this in detail on a livestream the other day and we were rolling at some of the replies. They were on point... But Naughty Dog is being soft af...
Again, silencing gamers isn't the way to our wallets.
A Familiar Pattern: DEI at the Expense of Quality
For many, Intergalactic appears (at least on the surface so far) to be yet another example of a studio prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over engaging gameplay and storytelling.
The game’s heavy-handed “girlboss” themes and focus on activism directly go out of their way to alienate its core audience, creating a product that once again, feels more like a lecture than any kind of immersive experience.
Closing Wallets and Losing Faith
The financial implications for Naughty Dog are extreme, but it feels like all they're doing is burying their collective heads in the proverbial sand here. Gamers have already begun boycotting the studio, with many in my comment sections stating that they aren't going to purchase Intergalactic. What's strange about all this is how Naughty Dog is pretending like everything is fine and dandy and that the community is totally on board with all of it, when in reality, it's been anything but.
The Bigger Picture
Tati Gabrielle’s inflammatory comments are predictable because of the baggage that comes along with hiring that type of person. Naughty Dog’s "creative direction" knew what they were getting themselves into with this direction and no one should be surprised at the inevitable fallout to follow. It highlights a troubling trend in the gaming industry. Studios and performers continue to alienate their existing audiences by dismissing our valid criticism and prioritizing activism over any real artistry. The result is a widening gap between creators and gamers, with trust and goodwill eroding completely at this point.
As the distant release of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet approaches, Naughty Dog faces an even higher uphill battle to try and salvage its reputation. They are doing anything BUT at this point right now. Whether the studio can bridge the divide remains to be seen, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Gamers are no longer willing to support products that disregard their collective voices. If Naughty Dog doesn’t want to address these real concerns, Intergalactic will become another reminder of what NOT to do in an industry grappling with its own identity. At this rate, it looks to already be way too late to fix.
~Smash
