Summary
Very little is known aboutIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetapart from what is shown in its announcement trailer and what developer Naughty Dog has revealed about it, which is not much in the grand scheme of things. That being said, more than enough has been disclosed aboutIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s gameplay, story, and setting to open the door for considerable speculation, with the solution to one of its greatest mysteries potentially hiding in plain sight.
One of the biggest currentmysteries ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetinvolves its setting — the lone planet of Sempiria that has been cut off from the rest of the universe for centuries by the time the game’s story begins. According to official descriptions ofIntergalactic’s story, Sempiria hasn’t communicated with the outside world for over 600 years, and those who attempt to reach it disappear without a trace. While that could be the result of a major catastrophe or an external force somewhere else in the universe keeping Sempiria under its thumb,Intergalactic’s “The Heretic Prophet” subtitle suggests another possibility — the planet cut itself off intentionally.
Intergalactic’s Subtitle May Hide the Reason for Sempiria’s Isolation
Sempiria May Be Ruled by a Theocratic Government That Enforces Strict Isolation
The storyline ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetfollows bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun, who becomes stranded on the remote planet Sempiria and subsequently faces a variety of challenges as she attempts to escape. At the heart of its story, however, is religion, with the game’s director,Neil Druckmann, having already confirmed that a fictional religion will play a major role inIntergalactic’s ambitious narrative. Based onIntergalactic’s subtitle, “The Heretic Prophet,” it makes sense that religion would be a major focus of the game’s narrative, but it might actually have more to do with Sempiria’s isolation than it immediately lets on.
One of the biggest current mysteries ofIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophetinvolves its setting — the lone planet of Sempiria that has been cut off from the rest of the universe for centuries by the time the game’s story begins.
The term “heretic” inIntergalactic’s subtitle suggests someone who goes against an established belief system, while “prophet” implies a figure with significant influence or knowledge. In light of that, it could be thatIntergalactic’s Sempiriais ruled by a theocratic government that enforces strict isolation from the rest of the universe. This could be why Jordan ends up being trapped there, as the leaders of Sempiria have worked hard to keep the truth about the planet’s exile hidden from the rest of the universe, and to let her go would mean potentially letting those secrets out.
This would also explain why explorers who have attempted to investigate the planet have never returned, as they may have been captured, converted, or even eliminated in order to prevent the truth from leaving the planet’s atmosphere. Sempiria’s isolation might have begun with a religious or ideological shift that led to a complete rejection of intergalactic society, thereby severing the planet’s connections with the outsideworld inIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Now, it’s possible that Jordan may have stumbled into a conspiracy or a forgotten history that Sempiria’s leaders want to keep buried.
Jordan, Intergalactic’s Protagonist, May Even Be the Heretic Prophet Herself
All of that said, it could be thatIntergalactic’s subtitle has less to do with the planet and its leaders and more to do with Jordan herself, and perhaps she didn’t even know it at the time of her arrival on Sempiria’s surface. Maybe her arrival on Sempiria isn’t as random as it seems, and she’s a significant figure in a major prophecy or preordained event that the planet’s rulers are afraid of. It could be that she poses a threat to Sempiria’s leaders and therefore its isolation, which would make her both the heretic and the prophet in this scenario. However, the truth may be made more evident asIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet’s releasedraws nearer, and after its launch.
