While Naughty Dog continues to work on The 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, but Uncharted is 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 and iconic as Tomb Raider.
The IP hasn't been seen since 2017 with the Nathan Drake-less Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Just one year before this, the hero of Uncharted got 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.
Uncharted 4 Was Drake's Perfect Ending
The conclusion of Uncharted 3 was 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, but Uncharted 4 did so much right by dragging someone from Drake's past into his life to make the new journey that much more personal.
The way Uncharted 4 ends 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, and making Nathan Drake content with a life that isn't always on the edge was the right move. He's a father, husband, brother, and friend, and setting Uncharted 5 after the epilogue of 4 would 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
Uncharted brings 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 of Uncharted 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 with Victor Sullivan gives 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, but Uncharted 4 goes back even further to show that Drake wasn't always alone.
It's alluded to in previous games that Nathan Drake's family life growing up wasn't all rosy, but the choice to begin Uncharted 4 at 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 in Uncharted 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 in Uncharted 4 make sense in the timeline.
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 Legacy struggled 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 in Uncharted 2 made for some of that game's best moments.
Should Uncharted 5 take advantage of the narrative threads that Uncharted 4 left 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 Legacy was the game that Nadine needed to 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 with The Last of Us: Factions, and a new start in a different IP is something that many fans want, so it's not guaranteed that Uncharted 5 will 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 behind Uncharted: Golden Abyss on 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. Unlike Halo, 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 to Uncharted's lofty name.
Uncharted 5 is rumored to be in development.