Sony is fueling rumors following a trademark filing for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a mystery title devoice of any online presence outside of this listing.
Could this be a new and unannounced IP? Or, just like other canceled projects, is it an avenue in its infancy being explored?
With Sony announcing a temporary pause on major existing franchises until April next year, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet arrives at a surprisingly opportune moment. The company is actively seeking to diversify its portfolio, and this fresh IP could be the answer. Whether it emerges as a sci-fi epic, a fantastical journey, or something entirely different, it could potentially fill a gap in Sony’s upcoming slate.
The sci-fi leanings of the title have cast a spotlight on several first-party Sony development studios rumored to be working on similar projects.
For starters, Sony Santa Monica, the long-time developers of the God of War franchise, has been hard at work on a still-unannounced sci-fi RPG since, at the very least, 2018, with Cory Barlog at the helm. The last we heard, Alanah Pearce, a writer for the award-winning studio, confirmed that the project is still in active development. In addition, Naughty Dog, which has hinted at moving beyond The Last of Us and Uncharted, has been rumored to be working on a new project that’s either sci-fi or fantasy-themed, depending on who you ask. Finally, Sony has a bevvy of other studios that could potentially be working on a sci-fi game, including Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio, among others.
While Intergalactic: The Heretic Project provides a glimpse into a possible future, it’s crucial to remember that trademark filings don’t guarantee a final product. The gaming industry is full of projects that evolve significantly before their eventual release, including title changes. For example, Days Gone was reportedly known as Dead Don’t Ride before its official release.
Unfortunately, absent an official confirmation, we’ll have to wait until Sony or Santa Monica Studio humors us with an update.
At the moment, the God of War developers are fresh off the success of the Valhalla update for God of War: Ragnarok – a free roguelite expansion for the critically acclaimed sequel that’s just as fun as the original title.
Certain cameos in the said update have birthed rumors that a remake of the original God of War trilogy is in development, but as with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, not much is known about them beyond hearsay.
Sony currently finds itself at a crossroads following the recent statements by its interim CEO, Hiroki Totoki. According to him, Sony has serious problems generating profit despite posting record revenues. It’s now anticipating a drop in PS5 sales as it explores other money-making ventures, which may include a more “aggressive” approach towards multiplatform releases. Despite of all of this, Totoki insists that a permanent price cut for the PS5 isn’t coming.
