Naughty Dog has announced that it will not feature dedicated servers for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’s multiplayer component; instead, a client host will be used for the action-adventure sequel’s online mode.
“We’ll still have a host, it’s still peer-to-peer," commented Uncharted 4’s Lead Multiplayer Designer, Robert Cogburn, during a discussion at Paris Games Week (via VG247). In addition, he revealed that matches will be able to support up to 10 players simultaneously, comprised of 5v5 battles. Uncharted 4’s multiplayer is entering its beta testing phase in early December, though the game is available to play on the show floor this week in Paris.
Previously, Naughty Dog revealed that it plans to introduce vehicles post-launch for the multiplayer component, with eight new stages planned for inclusion in the game—no remakes of previous Uncharted multiplayer stages will be included at present. Furthermore, the studio is also spicing things up in the gameplay department for Uncharted 4’s online battles, with gamers now able to call up on AI-controlled characters to assit them in battle, as well as summon supernatural artefacts such as the treasure of El Dorado to damage nearby enemies. The multiplayer will run at 900p/60fps.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is scheduled to ship for PS4 on March 18, 2016. The game was originally due for release in late 2015, although was pushed back to afford additional development time, in part due to Naughty Dog wanting to get the ending just right. Gamers looking to splash out on Drake’s next adventure may want to invest in the Special Edition or Libertalia Collector’s Edition, both of which feature additional, physical content. Uncharted 4’s multiplayer beta is due to kick off in December, with access to the teaser given away with the Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection on PS4.
Naughty Dog has made it clear that Uncharted 4 will be the final chapter in Drake’s story arc, and has admitted that continuing the series without him is difficult to imagine, though didn’t rule it out entirely. Set a few years after the events of Drake’s Deception, Uncharted 4 sees the lovable rogue and partner Victor ‘Sully’ Sullivan on the hunt for a legendary pirate treasure in Madagascar, and will be joined by Drake’s long-lost sibling, Sam.