TheUnchartedseries is among the most beloved that Sony has produced. The adventures of Nathan Drake have graced the big and small screens since the release ofUncharted: Drake’s Fortunein 2007, and stand as pivotal entries in the evolution of the action-adventure genre of video games. In a recent interview, Naughty Dog’sNeil Druckmann said the story of Nathan Drake is officially coming to a close, makingUncharted 4: A Thief’s Endthe final time that fans will play him. This statement contradicts prior rumors that Naughty Dog was working on a reboot of theUnchartedseries in 2022.
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‘Live From PS5’ Teases a Potential Uncharted Legacy Title
The “Live From PS5” trailer features live-action footage spliced with CGI models and animation, debuting a list of fictitious news stories set within Sony’s first-party IPs includingHorizon Forbidden West,Destiny 2,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, andGod of War Ragnarok. However, fans noticed the presence of an unrelated story featuring clips of a young woman with a torch exploring a cave, who later blows the dust off of an ancient artifact. This footage has fans speculating thatSony may be teasingUncharted 5starring Cassie Drake, the daughter of Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher.
Cassie featured heavily in the epilogue ofUncharted 4: A Thief’s Endas she explores her parents' home and stumbles upon Nathan Drake’s journal. Curious about the validity of the treasures and information inside the armoire, she questions her parents' past, leading to a brief argument. The series thus far ends with Nathan beginning to recount the tale of Sir Francis Drake and El Dorado, which originally led him down the path of a treasure hunter.The epilogue ofUncharted 4provides a near-perfect ending to the series, delivering on its character arcs and overall dramatic tone. However, a Cassie-ledUncharted 5could be a bold and exciting addition.
Cassie Drake Would Make a Great Protagonist for Uncharted 5
Prior to Druckmann’s comment about the future of theUnchartedseries, the epilogue in4led some fans to believe the series was truly over. However, oncerumors began circulating that a reboot ofUnchartedwas in development, fans questioned whether the series' protagonist should take the lead once more. With “Live from PS5” presumably teasing a Cassie-led sequel,Uncharted 5has the opportunity to build on the past, rather than dig it up.
There’s no telling what happened after the epilogue ofUncharted 4beyond the fact that Cassie was made aware of her family’s legacy. This providesUncharted 5with a variety of paths to explore. The game could tell the story of a young woman trying to distinguish her own legacy from that of her parents, or perhaps the story of a daughter paying for her father’s sins.Unchartedhas long suffered criticisms of ludo-narrative dissonance, as Nathan Drake - the charismatic good guy - butchers thousands of people across the series.Uncharted 5could present a different kind of combat alongside its new protagonist, putting the focus on a more stealthy approach. Developer Naughty Dog could take the series in a much darker direction depending on which threads it chooses to follow.
There are many ways in whichUncharted 5could revamp the series formula. Featuring an explorer in her earliest stages is one of them, as Cassie presents the option for a coming-of-age protagonist. Much of Nathan’s story revolved around his past, with various titles relying on flashbacks to set up the next big plot point. This also provides new players a chance to enter the franchise with little knowledge of the previous entries. Cassie, as shown inUncharted 4, has been raised with little-to-no knowledge about her parents' past, and that could play a major part in her adventures. It also stands to reason that Cassie was told a fairly incomplete history of her dad’s exploits, providing ample opportunity for Naughty Dog to show the harsh reality ofUncharted’s universe through fresh eyes.
No matter what Naughty Dog decides to do with the franchise, official statements from the company appear to assert thatNaughty Dog will focus on developing a new IP. If “Live From PS5” is teasing what fans hope, however,Uncharted5could be announced sometime later in the current ad campaign. Though the story of Nathan Drake is over, the story of his daughter could be just beginning, ushering in a new era for the beloved series. For now, fans are sure to be analyzing whatever clues they can find in the next “Live From PS5.”
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