Spoilers ahead for Uncharted 4
For the better part of the past decade, Naughty Dog’s reputation has been defined byThe Last of Us. But there was once a time when this was not the case: Naughty Dog jumped into the world ofcinematic action-adventure withUnchartedduring the PS3 generation, shocking gaming audiences who were most familiar with the developer through theCrash BandicootandJakfranchises.Unchartedis on ice now, but this probably won’t hold true forever.
Unchartedlead Nathan Drake ostensibly retired at the end ofUncharted 4, a game that sees him struggling with what can only be described as the most unrelatable form of a poor work-life balance. He can’t seem to leave the world of dangerous treasure-hunting behind, and embarks on a global adventure with his long-lost brother to uncover pirate Henry Avery’s secret treasure trove. After much strife, Drake walks away from treasure-hunting for good, and the game jumps ahead several years, putting players in the shoes of a teenage Cassandra Drake, the daughter of Nathan and Elena, with the implication being that she may pick up where her father left off. This leaves an opening forUnchartedto come back, and the powers that be have more than enough motivation to make this so.
Naughty Dog Doesn’t Need to Rush the Next Uncharted Game
Uncharted 5 Is a Likely Prospect
Unchartedwas once among PlayStation’s biggest franchises. During its heyday, it played a key role in bringing numerous players to the PlayStation 3, helping that console fight its way back to relevance after a fairly rocky launch.Unchartedhas been an undeniable success for both PlayStation and Naughty Dog, as it helped to define the companies' focus on mature, cinematic, single-player experiences, while being a financial haymaker.
All of that is to say that, for better or worse,Unchartedis hard to walk away from, from a business perspective. A strong IP is worth more than gold in the modern entertainment industry, which is something that most gamers are aware of. As such, whileUncharted 5could be a tricky prospectin some ways, it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise. At the same time, it seems clear that Nathan Drake wouldn’t be the star of this theoretical sequel. Whether he passes the torch to Cassandra or someone else,Uncharted 5would take the series in an unpredictable direction, which, combined with the game’s sense of unofficial anticipation, could work in Naughty Dog’s favor.
No One Is Expecting Uncharted 5 Any Time Soon
Since the door has been left open forUncharted 5, but neither Naughty Dog nor Sony has announced that the series will continue, Naughty Dog can essentially wait as long as it likes to bring it back. There have beenrumors about anUncharted 1remake, andUncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collectiondid the rounds on PC just two years ago, so there’s clearly some demand for the franchise that can be sated while Naughty Dog decides what it wants to do about the next full entry in the series.
Sony’sUnchartedmovie is getting a sequel, though it could be far away still.Uncharted 5’s announcement, if it ever comes, could coincide with the reveal or release of this film, which would offer some helpful cross-promotion.
Of course, there’s always the chance thatUnchartedis done for good.ThoughUncharted 5has potential, not every franchise can or should go on forever, and Naughty Dog may have totally moved on from its swashbuckling IP. But if there is any interest in reviving the series, Naughty Dog shouldn’t feel pressured to move forward at any given time—audiences would probably buy it no matter what.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
WHERE TO PLAY
Winner of over 150 Game of the Year awards.Several years after his last adventure, retired fortune hunter Nathan Drake, is forced back into the world of thieves. Fate comes calling when Sam, Drake’s presumed dead brother, resurfaces seeking his help to save his own life and offering an adventure Drake can’t resist. Drake’s greatest adventure will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves.On the hunt for Captain Henry Avery’s long-lost treasure, Sam and Drake set off to find Libertalia, the pirate utopia deep in the forests of Madagascar – leading to a journey around the globe through jungle isles, far-flung cities, and snow capped peaks on the search for Avery’s fortune.
