It’s one of the most recognizable names in the business of performance. After all, you’ll find a Porsche badge on everything from the iconic 911 Turbo to the hybrid 918 Spyder hypercar. However, you likely wouldn’t expect to find a Porsche badge on a spaceship. Well, thanks to a partnership between the German automaker and Naughty Dog, you just might.
You won’t be able to buy a Porsche spaceship at a dealership, but you can fly it in the latest release from Naughty Dog
If you’re a car enthusiast, you’ve noticed the sometimes less-than-subtle integration of a popular badge in sci-fiction movies, TV shows, and games. For instance, the future Audi supercar from “I, Robot.” Or the litigious partnership between Peugeot and the people behind “Blade Runner 2049.” Now, sci-fi fans can add Porsche to the list of futuristic fantasy rides.
It’s the Porsche 984 Tempest NDX, a cyberpunk-esque twin-engine spaceship in Naughty Dog’s newest game, “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.” A look around the rear of the spacecraft reveals a script exactly like you’d find on a 992.1 911. It’s the familiar upper-case “PORSCHE” lettering followed by the same swooping style you’d see on a 911 Carrera.
The exterior is a red and white livery with stripes and angular wings. On the inside, the Porsche spaceship is, well, a spaceship. Buttons and controls populate the cockpit. However, the yoke flanks a prominent red and gold Porsche badge.
That said, the game is already a bit of a controversy. As with Jaguar’s divisive refresh, critics are bashing “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet” for its “wokeness.” The lead character, Jordan A. Mun is at the center of the criticism, per Forbes. Specifically, commenters are quick to point out that the character’s design is too “woke.” In fact, some critics are comparing the aesthetic to that of “Concord,” a dead-on-arrival release from Sony.
Still, this isn’t the first time Porsche dabbled in the medium of spaceships. The fictitious “Tri-Wing S-91x Pegasus Starfighter” was the German brand’s take on a “Star Wars” franchise spacecraft, complete with a visible R2-D2 droid. How you would find a Porsche in a galaxy far, far away is unbeknownst to me.
