While Naughty Dog continues to work onThe Last of Us: Factions,it’s easy to feel like the company needs a change with its next single player-centric title. Plenty of fans are jonesing for something new, butUnchartedis still on the minds of many, as it’s one of the best examples of a quality first-party franchise. What started in 2007 on the PlayStation 3 at a time when the system desperately needed a home run has become the go-to linear action/adventure series, usurping even something as longstanding andiconic asTomb Raider.
The IP hasn’t been seen since 2017 with the Nathan Drake-lessUncharted: The Lost Legacy. Just one year before this, the hero ofUnchartedgot an ending that few expected, but all knew that he deserved a loving family after years of dangerous, reckless adventure and enough stories to last a lifetime. Rumors of a fifth mainline game have been making the rounds, but nothing is currently confirmed. This means there are numerous directions it could go with its setting, story, and gameplay, but the biggest question that fans would want answered is surely the presence (or lack thereof) of Nathan Drake. He’s synonymous with the franchise, and a prequel that plugs some gaps in his timeline would be an intriguing proposition.
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Uncharted 4 Was Drake’s Perfect Ending
The conclusion ofUncharted 3was the cherry atop a truly exceptional experience. Nate swapping Francis Drake’s ring for another chance with Elena was beautiful, and though players don’t get to see the pair attempt to forge a ‘normal’ life, witnessing them departing hand in hand gave fans all the context that they needed that Nate found happiness in something that wasn’t the thrill of adventure. Tampering with that was cause for concern, butUncharted 4did so much right by dragging someone from Drake’s past into his life to make the new journey that much more personal.
The wayUncharted 4ends is sublime. It was a reaffirmation that while some of the creative talent that worked on the first three were absent in the 2016 release, Naughty Dog knew what made the series great, andmaking Nathan Drake contentwith a life that isn’t always on the edge was the right move. He’s a father, husband, brother, and friend, and settingUncharted 5after the epilogue of4would be a disservice to the ending of the fourth game. Should the fifth decide to have players assume the role of Drake, it has to be a prequel if it’s going to truly honor the character.
Uncharted 3 Shows a Different Drake to Uncharted 4
Unchartedbrings players back in time on a handful of occasions to show what Nathan Drake was like in his youth. The first instance this is shown is in the second chapter ofUncharted 3,sharing a more youthful, mischievous Nate as he makes ends meet on the streets of Cartagena, Colombia. He feels like a less experienced but equally cheeky version of the character, and seeing Nate’s first encounter withVictor Sullivangives the 2011 game a lot of vital context, as most of the story that follows is seen from their perspective. What initially began as a chance meeting became a friendship spanning decades, butUncharted 4goes back even further to show that Drake wasn’t always alone.
It’s alluded to in previous games thatNathan Drake’s family lifegrowing up wasn’t all rosy, but the choice to beginUncharted 4at the Saint Francis Boys Home boldly gave clarity to the situation. He looked up to Sam, his brother, and followed in his footsteps whenever he could, which would often lead him into trouble. It’s fascinating, but feels like a contradiction to what happened inUncharted 3. A fifth game would be a great way to plug the obvious gap and show how he would find himself in Colombia without Sam, and how they rekindle a relationship so that the prison sequences inUncharted 4make sense in the timeline.
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Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Felt Like it was Missing Something
Though it was great to see Chloe Frazer return and have an adventure of her own,Uncharted: The Lost Legacystruggled to overcome the lack of Nathan Drake. Sam makes an appearance, and the narrative is fantastic with Chloe being a very compelling protagonist, but the banter between her and Drake inUncharted 2made for some of that game’s best moments.
ShouldUncharted 5take advantage of the narrative threads thatUncharted 4left behind and center around Cassie Drake or have players see what Sully and Sam are up to, it would be starting on the back foot because Nate is too good a character to be left on the bench.Uncharted: The Lost Legacywas the game that Nadine neededto show her strengths, but with the absence of Nate it missed some of the magic of what came before.
Uncharted 5 Will Not Likely Be From Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog seems to have a full schedule withThe Last of Us: Factions, and a new start in a different IP is something that many fans want, so it’s not guaranteed thatUncharted 5will release with the California-based developer at the helm. A prequel would do well to give more context to Nathan Drake and could keep fans happy with his presence, but it wouldn’t have a significant impact on the continuity of previous games.
This means that, should a different company take on the project (perhaps even Bend Studio, the developer behindUncharted: Golden Abysson the PlayStation Vita) there wouldn’t be a huge risk that the effort damages the reputation of the series if it isn’t a success. UnlikeHalo,which continued its mainline series with new creators 343 Industries, a prequel wouldn’t alter the fabric of what Naughty Dog did, and would only add to the IP’s quality if it lives up toUncharted’s lofty name.
Uncharted 5is rumored to be in development.
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