After nearly a decade without a new entry, Uncharted could finally be preparing for a comeback. A new report claims Naughty Dog is developing an entirely new game in the adventure series, with Nathan Drake expected to appear in some capacity.
The information originates from MP1st, which says sources familiar with Naughty Dog’s plans have revealed that a new Uncharted project is currently in development. Importantly, the project is reportedly a completely new game rather than the Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune remake that has been rumoured at various points over the years.
Adding considerably more weight to the story, VGC says it has been able to partially corroborate the report through its own sources, independently hearing that Naughty Dog is working on another Uncharted. VGC also reports that the game could potentially involve both Nathan Drake and his daughter Cassie.
According to the original report, Nathan Drake will appear in the new game in some form, although exactly how large his role will be remains unclear. MP1st was unable to establish whether Drake will once again be the protagonist, serve as a supporting character or simply make a smaller appearance.
That uncertainty naturally puts some attention on Cassie Drake. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End concluded Nathan and Elena’s story with an epilogue introducing their teenage daughter, who discovers evidence of her parents’ previous adventures. The ending left Naughty Dog with an obvious route to continue the Drake family’s story without undoing Nathan’s retirement, although there is currently no confirmation that Cassie will be the new lead.
Another particularly interesting part of the report concerns Shaun Escayg, who is said to be directing the project. Escayg has extensive history with the franchise, having served as writer and creative director on 2017’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. He later left Naughty Dog to work on Marvel’s Avengers at Crystal Dynamics before returning to the studio.
There may have been an earlier hint at what Escayg was working on. Earlier this year, he shared images from Trinidad and Tobago showing historic locations and an old cannon alongside a reference to “research.” At the time, fans speculated that the trip could be connected to Uncharted, although there was no evidence establishing that connection. More recently, insider NateTheHate said Escayg’s unannounced project was not related to The Last of Us.
The new Uncharted is also reportedly planned to follow Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in Naughty Dog’s release schedule. If accurate, that would suggest the project is still some distance away, particularly as Intergalactic itself remains the studio’s current major announced game. MP1st additionally claims The Last of Us Part III is planned to follow the new Uncharted, though development schedules can change significantly over time.
The series has effectively been dormant since Uncharted: The Lost Legacy arrived in 2017, aside from remasters and the Legacy of Thieves Collection. Nathan Drake’s main story concluded a year earlier with Uncharted 4, making another full entry a significant potential return for one of PlayStation’s best-known franchises.
For now, however, the project remains unannounced. Neither Sony nor Naughty Dog has officially confirmed a new Uncharted, and details such as its title, platforms, setting, release window and playable characters remain unknown. But with MP1st’s original report now partially corroborated independently by VGC, there appears to be considerably more behind the story than simple fan speculation.