Next Uncharted Game Release Date Speculation, Story Predictions and More

Below we’ll discuss the details of a possible Uncharted 5 game, including its release date, content, development, and much more.

Naughty Dogs Uncharted franchise has seen massive success over the years, and after the recent Legacy of Thieves collection (a remaster of the two most recent games, A Thief’s End and The Lost Legacy), many wonder what will be next for Nathan Drake and the series as a whole. More specifically, fans want to know if there is another Uncharted game on the horizon.

Well, you don’t need to wonder for much longer as this article will delve into all the details we know so far surrounding the series and its possible future. We’ll discuss a speculative release date, the content we expect based on the story events previously, and much more, so without further delay, let’s jump right in.

Update on 15 November 2023: We've checked for any news or leaks on the next Uncharted game and updated this article accordingly.

Table of Contents

When Will a New Uncharted Game Be Released?

Although Naughty Dog has not made an official announcement about Uncharted 5, there have been a few hints suggesting its development. Notably, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg reported that Sony Bend was working on a new Uncharted game under Naughty Dog’s supervision.

Another clue comes from a recent PlayStation Spotlight Ad, which sparked rumors of the game being in the works. While the ad itself doesn’t provide concrete information about Uncharted 5, it gives off the impression that Nathan Drake might embark on another thrilling treasure hunt.

The ad primarily focuses on well-known titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok. However, it briefly shows a clip of a girl with a flaming torch approaching a pedestal in a cave. This led fans to speculate whether this character was Cassie, the daughter of Nate and Elena introduced in the epilogue of Uncharted 4.

Unfortunately, Sony Bend has withdrawn from the project, and we’ve seen no further hints in recent Sony advertising of a new Uncharted game, leaving the status of a fifth game uncertain. As we eagerly await further news, let’s reflect on the previous Uncharted games and discuss some features we hope to see in the upcoming installment.

What will Uncharted 5 be about?

The prologue of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End provides a satisfying conclusion to Nathan’s story, offering hints about his and Elena’s activities in recent years and introducing their daughter, Cassie. However, it leaves some room for further adventures for the family, leaving fans curious about who will take the lead in Uncharted 5 or any future installment.

Uncharted 5 has the potential to become a passing-of-the-torch narrative, with Nate and Elena guiding and teaching Cassie the ways of a treasure hunter, possibly with assistance from Sam and Sully. This approach aligns with Naughty Dog’s style and would be a fitting continuation of Nathan’s legacy through his daughter.

Since the story of Nathan Drake has been concluded many speculate a new Uncharted game will focus on his daughter, Cassie. (Picture: Naughty Dog)

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Neil Druckmann of Naughty Dog mentioned the following regarding a potential sequel: “For us, Uncharted was incredibly successful — Uncharted 4 was one of our best-selling games — and we were able to put the final touch on that story and declare that we’re finished. We’re moving on.”

Considering this statement, it appears logical to conclude that Uncharted 4 served as a perfect conclusion to Nathan Drake’s saga. While a story featuring Chloe and Nadine might be enjoyable, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Uncharted 5 Possible Gameplay

Depending on the developer chosen for Uncharted 5, the game mechanics can take two possible routes. If Naughty Dog continues their involvement, players can expect a similar gameplay experience: a third-person perspective platform-style adventure game where Nathan Drake explores diverse locations and overcomes adversaries.

Alternatively, if a different developer takes the reins, there may be a departure from the original formula, while still retaining core elements to appeal to existing players, along with fresh combat and exploration mechanics to provide differentiation.

The new Uncharted game will either stick closely to the original gameplay or deviate quite a bit, depending on who ends up developing it. (Picture: Naughty Dog)

Cassie Drake, as a protagonist, would likely have a distinct playstyle compared to Nathan, who is known for his brawling and swashbuckling approach. It is reasonable to expect Cassie to prioritize stealth more than her father while still incorporating some swashbuckling moments.

In the brief snippet mentioned earlier, the protagonist is seen carrying a torch and a variety of tools, diverging from Nathan’s everyman appearance with his partially tucked shirt and gun holsters. Therefore, it would be interesting to witness a more grounded approach to how Cassie Drake, as a treasure hunter, navigates her surroundings.

Who will develop Uncharted 5?

Naughty Dog remains the top contender for the future of the Uncharted series, even though Druckmann’s statement may suggest otherwise.

While it’s true that a developer can find new inspiration for a franchise that has been dormant, Naughty Dog’s focus may have been on concluding the specific story they intended to tell. However, as with treasure hunting, there’s always the potential for a new adventure to be uncovered in the Uncharted universe.

Chances are more than likely that Naughty Dog will take up the reigns and develop the next Uncharted game, but that’s still up for debate. (Picture: Naughty Dog)

Another contender for the future of Uncharted is Bend Studio, known for their work on Golden Abyss. However, they are currently focused on developing a new IP utilizing the open-world system from Days Gone. This puts the spotlight back on Naughty Dog as the primary candidate unless Bluepoint Games takes on the task of remaking the original Drake’s Fortune.

And there you have it, a high-level look at the prospect of a new Uncharted game, or Uncharted 5 that we do ultimately expect to release in the future. For now, be sure to check back here soon as we update this listing with more information regarding what we know about a new Uncharted game.

Written by Shane Moosa

Shane started his career as a freelance writer for Gamezo while working full-time as a software developer. You can often find Shane trying his hand at no-hit runs of Souls Games such as Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3 (and being quite unsuccessful). To relax, Shane will often boot up sessions of Overwatch 2 or Hunt: Showdown, but his interests are spread across various games, from AAA titles (He loved the Dead Space Remake and RE4 Remake) to indies such as Hollow Knight, Celeste, and Hades. Shane is always willing to try new games though, so feel free to drop him an email with what you think he should check out next.

Uncharted 5 – Everything You Should Know

The Uncharted series helped pad the PS3’s launch year with cinematic adventures when Drake’s Fortune launched in November 2007. In the years that followed, Nathan Drake embarked on many treks for treasure, always finding himself in trouble along the way. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was the believed conclusion of Nathan Drake’s story until a PlayStation Spotlight ad sparked the rumor mill of a sequel on its way in the form of Uncharted 5 for PS5, but is it really happening?

When Is Uncharted 5 Coming Out?

Currently, there is no set release date for Uncharted 5 and the game isn’t even confirmed, but it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

The aforementioned spotlight ad gives no real information on the potential development of Uncharted 5, but it absolutely feels like the kind of nudge that would send Nathan on one of his epic treasure hunts.

The ad spent a lot of time focusing on known titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok. Then we got a quick millisecond of a clip of a girl, flaming torch in hand, approaching a pedestal in a cave.

In another quick shot later in the ad, the same girl blows the dust off an artifact.

It’s definitely an interesting choice, especially when the rest of the ad aligns with other confirmed PS5 titles. Could this have been our first real clue that Uncharted 5 is somewhere on the horizon? And who could this be?

First and foremost, the epilogue of A Thief’s End introduced us to Cassie Drake, Nate and Ellie’s daughter. Through some dialogue and an issue of the in-game magazine “Adventure Life,” we know Cassie is following in her father’s footsteps.

While the epilogue alone doesn’t offer enough to consider it sequel baiting and writer/director Neil Druckmann’s own comments suggest the series is finished, this new ad is quite suspicious. Everything presented aligns with a game on the PS5, whether it’s the quick snippet of a robot from Stray or the Mongols from Ghost of Tsushima riding from a burning village. There’s even a glimpse of imagery inspired by The Callisto Protocol and Returnal.

So, who’s this random girl exploring a dusty cave? And if this is just meant to allude to the legacy of Uncharted, it’s unusual that not only is Nathan not present, but neither is any other PlayStation legacy series.

With all of this said, we’re erring on the side of caution, but we’re not convinced we’ve seen the last of the Drake family. Should we see an Uncharted 5, though, it’s going to be a long, long wait.

What Could Uncharted 5 Be About?

Adventure abounds when Nathan Drake is on the scene. Except, according to Druckmann, we’ve seen the last of the aging explorer’s escapades. Of course, that means his daughter would take up the mantle and embark on her own misadventures. Since all of Nate’s storylines were wrapped up nicely, the series moving forward would be all Cassie’s. Unless the developer opts for the “father gone missing” trope.

Since Cassie would be a new character, it’s tough to say what her perils would be and where her ambitions would take her. All we know is that we’d gladly join her on the quest to find missing artifacts and booby-trapped tombs.

Another choice to lead Uncharted 5 could be Chloe Frazer, the protagonist of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the last Uncharted game released. In The Lost Legacy, Chloe teams up with Nadine Ross, the mercenary antagonist from Uncharted 4. Any new sequel could feature these two as the protagonists again, or simply as supporting characters, though they will certainly feature in one way or another.

Who Would Develop Uncharted 5?

The safe bet is Naughty Dog. Despite what Druckmann says, a developer can find new inspiration for a long-since-dead IP. We’re not quite ready to believe that Naughty Dog has actually thrown in the Uncharted towel. Just that the story they aimed to tell had been told. As with treasure, there could always be a new one to uncover.

The alternative could be Bend Studio, which worked on the 2011 PS Vita release Golden Abyss. However, in 2021, Bend confirmed it was working on a new IP utilizing the open-world system created for Days Gone.

This brings us back to Naughty Dog — unless it’s not Uncharted 5 we’re getting next, but a Drake’s Fortune remake from Bluepoint Games. In 2015, Bluepoint released The Nathan Drake Collection compendium of remasters for the PS4 before finding its footing in remakes. Considering how fond Sony are of remakes and reboots these days, as well as the fact that there’s a PC audience for the series after the release of the Legacy of Thieves Collection, an Uncharted reboot isn’t out of the question.

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Uncharted 5: Everything You Need To Know

Uncharted 5 is one of the most mysterious and elusive titles in gaming. After four mainline entries and one successful spin-off, it seemed the Uncharted series really had reached its end. But rumours of another instalment have persisted since Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. And this raises lots of different questions. What would it be about? Who would its main character be? When would it be released?

Understandably, fans want some answers. Series developer Naughty Dog has remained tight-lipped about the game. But there are nuggets of information out there which suggest it will eventually see the light of day. So, if you’re hoping for a new Uncharted on PS5, here’s what we know…

Uncharted 5

When did Uncharted come out?

The Uncharted series began in 2007 with the release of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on PS3. It launched on November 19th 2007 in North America and December 7th 2007 in Europe. The original Uncharted was one of the most anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusives at the time, and received significant press coverage and industry hype upon its release.

Uncharted games in order

There are a total of four main Uncharted games, released between 2007 and 2016. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End also received a standalone expansion called Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The Uncharted games were released in the following order:

Naughty Dog Next Game

It’s unlikely that Uncharted 5 will be Naughty Dog’s next game. All rumours seem to point to a remake of The Last of Us or a standalone multiplayer game coming first. There’s a good chance we might even get The Last of Us Part III before a fifth Uncharted outing.

Will there be another Uncharted game?

The most important question is whether or not a fifth Uncharted is actually being made. And while there’s no official confirmation of it, the answer is likely “yes”. How do we know? Back in April, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that a new Uncharted game was being made by Sony Bend (the developer of 2019’s Days Gone) under Naughty Dog’s supervision. Apparently, Sony Bend’s team didn’t like the arrangement so they left the project and are now working on a different game.

It’s unclear what has happened to the new Uncharted since then. But it sounds like Sony Bend got started and then walked away relatively quickly. So, either it’s in development limbo while Sony/Naughty Dog find a different team to work on it or a new developer has already been found and development has resumed.

Is Uncharted PlayStation exclusive?

Yes – for the most part. All main entries in the Uncharted series were released on PlayStation. However, the recent Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection was released on Microsoft Windows as well as PlayStation 5.

PlayStation 5 Uncharted

Will Uncharted 5 be on PS5? Given that it is most likely years away, you can expect it to launch on PS5 rather than PS4. Of course, Sony may want to make it available to as many people as possible. If that’s the case, a PS4 release would be essential. Although, making the game for PS4 would significantly impact what could be achieved technologically. Which makes a PS5-only release seem far more realistic considering the expected timeframe.

Nathan Drake PS5

What’s Uncharted 5 about and who will the main character be? Will we see Nathan Drake on PS5? Given that we know so little about it, lots of gamers will be wondering what the game is about. Uncharted 4 seemed to bring the series to its natural end. And we can’t ask what Uncharted 5 will be about without also discussing who its main character will be. There’s every chance that Nathan Drake’s saga is over. Uncharted 4 left his future somewhat open-ended – but Drake had a family and finally seemed to have settled down. So to bring him out of retirement to continue his adventures would dilute that satisfying ending.

Of course, it could always focus on his daughter. It’s an interesting, albeit slightly cliché, option. Perhaps most likely is another instalment featuring Chloe Frazer. Chloe is one of the series most popular characters and was excellent as the lead protagonist in 2017’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. And while that game was far smaller than its predecessors, there’s no reason a full-length title with Chloe in the starring role couldn’t work. I think what I’m trying to say is that we’re rooting for Chloe to take up Drake’s mantle.

Uncharted 4 release date

Before we talk about the release date of a potential fifth instalment, it’s worth considering when the last main entry in the series dropped. Uncharted 4 was released on May 10th 2016. That’s six years ago! Surely we’re due another Uncharted game now?! We’ve waited long enough – and Naughty Dog has had plenty of time to cook up plans for the next title.

How many chapters in Uncharted 4?

The structure and narrative of Uncharted 4 could also have implications for the hotly-anticipated fifth game. So, how many chapters were in Uncharted 4? There were 22 chapters in total, plus a prologue and epilogue. It’s likely Uncharted 5 would have a similar amount of chapters.

How many Uncharted games are there for PS4?

There were two Uncharted games released for PS4 – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. There are three if you also include Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, which featured remasters of the series’ first three titles.

Uncharted 5 release date

That brings us to the next big question. When is Uncharted 5 coming out? Unfortunately, we don’t know yet. While it’s likely the game is being made, its release date remains unclear. Video game development takes a long time. And assuming Sony Bend started making it in late 2020, we could still be 3 or 4 years away from seeing it for the first time. Obviously, any new Uncharted game will be bigger and more technologically advanced than Uncharted 4. So don’t expect it any time soon – but when it does eventually arrive, it could be the most impressive one yet.

Do you think we’ll get Uncharted 5 any time soon? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…