A New Uncharted Game Is Reportedly in Development at Naughty Dog — And Nathan Drake May Return

After years of wondering whether Naughty Dog would ever return to the world of Uncharted, fans may finally have a reason to get excited.

A new report claims that Naughty Dog is working on an entirely new Uncharted game, with Uncharted: The Lost Legacy director Shaun Escayg reportedly leading the project. Even more intriguingly, franchise protagonist Nathan Drake is said to appear in some capacity.

There is one important catch: Sony and Naughty Dog have not officially announced the game. The information currently comes from reporting based on sources familiar with the project.

Naughty Dog Reportedly Has Another Uncharted Adventure in the Works

According to the original report from MP1st, the project is being developed as a brand-new Uncharted game rather than a remake.

That distinction is particularly interesting because rumors surrounding Naughty Dog’s return to the franchise have previously included the possibility of revisiting the original Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

The current report instead points toward a completely new chapter in the series. VGC has also reported that it can partially corroborate the existence of the project through its own sources.

Nathan Drake Could Be Back

Perhaps the biggest piece of information for longtime Uncharted fans is the reported involvement of Nathan Drake.

According to MP1st, Drake will appear in the new game “in some capacity.” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll once again be the playable protagonist.

At this point, it isn’t known whether Drake would:

Return as the main character

Play a supporting role

Appear as part of the story

Make a smaller cameo

That uncertainty is especially important because Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End appeared to bring Drake’s treasure-hunting career to a close.

Shaun Escayg Reportedly Leads the Project

The name attached to the reported project is particularly familiar to Uncharted fans.

Shaun Escayg previously served as creative director of 2017’s Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the standalone adventure that shifted the spotlight away from Nathan Drake and placed Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross at the center of the story.

Escayg also worked on Uncharted 4, making his reported involvement with a new entry notable.

If the report proves accurate, Naughty Dog would be placing the franchise in the hands of someone who already has experience expanding the Uncharted universe beyond Drake.

Could Cassie Drake Be the New Protagonist?

Here’s where things get particularly interesting.

Uncharted 4 ended with Nathan and Elena’s daughter, Cassie Drake, discovering evidence of her parents’ former adventures. Nathan ultimately begins telling her stories about his past.

That ending naturally opened the door for another generation of treasure hunters.

While there is no confirmation that Cassie will be the protagonist, VGC has pointed out that the ending leaves room for her to potentially become part of a future adventure.

So the reported return of Nathan Drake doesn’t necessarily mean Naughty Dog is simply recreating the old formula.

The studio could potentially use Drake as a mentor or supporting character while introducing another playable lead.

When Could the New Game Release?

Don’t expect to play it anytime soon.

The reported project is said to follow Naughty Dog’s upcoming Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet in the studio’s development plans. However, there is no official release date for the new Uncharted, and Naughty Dog has not publicly confirmed the reported production schedule.

Naughty Dog’s officially announced next game remains Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which is being developed for PlayStation 5.

That means any reported timeline beyond Intergalactic should be treated as provisional rather than an established release roadmap.

This Isn’t Official Yet

This is the most important thing to remember.

Naughty Dog has not officially announced a new Uncharted game. The studio’s official website currently identifies Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet as its next game and has not announced an Uncharted sequel.

The new reports are nevertheless notable because multiple outlets have now reported on the project, with VGC saying its own sources can partially corroborate MP1st’s report.

Until Naughty Dog or Sony makes an official announcement, however, details such as the title, story, protagonist, platforms and release date remain unconfirmed.

What This Could Mean for the Uncharted Series

If the reports are accurate, Naughty Dog could be preparing a very different kind of Uncharted sequel.

The studio has already demonstrated with The Lost Legacy that the franchise can continue without Nathan Drake being the sole focus. Bringing Drake back while simultaneously introducing a new generation of characters could allow Naughty Dog to connect the original saga with its future.

And that’s arguably the most fascinating part of this rumor.

The next Uncharted might not simply be Nathan Drake’s next adventure.

It could be the beginning of the next era of Uncharted.

For now, though, fans will have to wait for Naughty Dog to officially reveal what comes next.