The Uncharted franchise was massively successful for Naughty Dog during the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 generations. The series perfectly illustrated how the studio had grown from games like Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter, crafting more ambitious stories with better character development and more impressive visuals. Nathan Drake became an iconic character, but with the release of Uncharted 4, his story came to a beautiful conclusion.
Recently, Neil Druckmann made it clear that Naughty Dog was “moving on” from the franchise. Though it could easily bring back Nathan Drake for another journey to replay the greatest hits and bring in an absurd amount of money, the studio is choosing to do different things. As great as the Uncharted games were, this is ultimately the correct decision, as there are two major reasons why another Naughty Dog Uncharted game would be the wrong move.
Naughty Dog Has Done All It Can With Uncharted
When looking at the Uncharted franchise, it is hard to imagine what another game could accomplish. From a gameplay perspective, Naughty Dog perfected the series’ trademark set pieces and refined the gunplay with the games in the Legacy of Thieves Collection. The open areas in Uncharted 4 and Uncharted: Lost Legacy also took the treasure hunting experience to new heights. As is usually the case with Naughty Dog games, though, the story was the true star. Said story ended perfectly, and bringing back Nathan Drake for another game would cheapen his happy ending.
Some fans have suggested that another spin-off like Lost Legacy could focus on Sully or Sam, and perhaps this would make for a good game. A full on-reboot with Nate’s daughter Cassie in the leading role would also have potential. However, these ideas can be realized by a different developer, as Naughty Dog did what it wanted to do with Uncharted, telling the story it wanted to tell and ending it the way it wanted to. Further, much like Naughty Dog outgrew Jak and Daxter and Crash Bandicoot, it has evolved beyond swashbuckling action games with charming characters but straightforward narratives.
Moving on From Uncharted Allows Naughty Dog To Do Different Things
Naughty Dog retiring Uncharted or passing the baton to another PlayStation Studios developer allows it to focus on other projects. First and foremost, it can finish its ambitious The Last of Us multiplayer game, ensuring that it is a title players come back to for years on end. The Last of Us Part 3 could also be released, hopefully ending Ellie’s story on a high note just like Nathan Drake’s was over six-and-a-half years ago.
Once The Last of Us has been wrapped up - and possibly while it is still being worked on - Naughty Dog could deliver a new IP. For several years fans of the developer have been waiting to see something new, as it has shifted focus between Uncharted and The Last of Us for well over a decade. With Uncharted left behind, Naughty Dog can focus purely on its most critically acclaimed property and an entirely new one, creating something that may turn out to be just as special as Uncharted was.
With the Uncharted film doing well financially, the series will live on in some way, even if the live action version of the story lacks the quality of the games that inspired it. Further, perhaps another developer will take on the gargantuan task of following in Naughty Dog’s footsteps and continuing Uncharted. Either way, it is for the best that Naughty Dog moves on to bigger things. With such powerful storytelling like what is seen in The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog limiting itself to Uncharted's whimsical tone makes little sense. Further, the freedom to move to an entirely new genre with fresh mechanics and a different setting is exciting. Nathan Drake’s adventures in the Uncharted series are unforgettable, but Naughty Dog stepping away from them is more promising than it is heartbreaking.
