Naughty Dog has cast doubt on whether it can continue the multi-million selling Uncharted franchise without its iconic protagonist, Nathan Drake.
Speaking in the latest issue of OPM UK, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End writer, Josh Scherr, didn’t rule out the possibility of a world without the cocky fortune hunter, but admitted the prospect was difficult to imagine.
"I don’t know. That’s a good question," he commented. "I think one thing that’s been great about this series is that we have created this…I hate to use the word universe because Marvel’s been overusing it, but we’ve created this world where ancient civilisations remain undiscovered and lots of charismatic and unscrupulous treasure hunters exist to go and pursue these.
"I suppose you could tell a story in that world without Nathan Drake, but it’s…in some ways it’s a little bit hard to imagine."
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is due out exclusively on PlayStation 4 on March 18, 2016. The game has widely been marketed as the final chapter in Drake’s story arc, and will feature a number of returning characters from the franchise. Drake, as always, will remain the sole playable character.
Gamers will be able to test drive the game’s multiplayer in December’s beta, access of which can be obtained by purchasing Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection for PS4 next month.
The Uncharted franchise started out life on PS3 back in 2007, and was followed by 2009’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and 2011’s Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. A portable outing, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, was released on PlayStation Vita in 2012.
To date, the series has sold over 21 million copies globally, cementing it was one of Sony’s most successful first-party franchises.
Source: OPM UK Issue 115 (November 2015)