Uncharted was one of my favorite franchises growing up and Naughty Dog was my favorite developer. However, the studio might be leaving the series behind. I wouldn’t have said this five years ago, but I think Naughty Dog is right in moving on and exploring broader horizons.Before The Last of Us, Uncharted was Naughty Dog’s premier franchise, boasting four games and one spin-off. Uncharted follows the exploits of Nathan Drake and his friends as they embark on dangerous and extravagant treasure hunts. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy was the last game in the franchise, released in 2017, and fans have been curious about when or if the series will return. The co-president of Naughty Dog, Neil Druckmann, recently stated that their iconic franchise might be no more, saying “Uncharted was insanely successful – Uncharted 4 was one of the best-selling games – and we are able to put our final brushstroke on that story and say that we’re done.”Several games often outstay their welcome. Though the initial concept and storytelling are strong, the creators feel forced, or they get greedy, and they prolong the franchise. Assassin’s Creed seems to be the one franchise that is keeping Ubisoft afloat, so the developers work tirelessly to churn out a new game every year or so. The pinnacle of the franchise was the Ezio Trilogy. It told the complete story of Ezio’s life, making Revelations a logical stopping point (ignoring the present-day plot) for the franchise, but Ubisoft kept making games. Even though some entries stand out, Assassin’s Creed has become a rote franchise that has lost some of its original magic. This happens when the creators don’t stop when the storyline should be over. Some of my favorite TV shows concluded when the story reached a satisfying conclusion, such as Breaking Bad and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Both of these probably could have continued based on viewership, but the creators had the restraint to stop when they felt the story needed it most. Uncharted 4: A Theif’s End had a great stopping point and any continuation of Nathan Drake’s story would have soiled the wholesome and conclusive end.Nathan Drake was driven by treasure hunting, seeking the allure of gold and adventure. It seemed that he always got drawn into the fray even if he wanted to stop. At the beginning of Uncharted 4, when he is enjoying an evening with his wife, Elena, we see this play out perfectly. The treasure hunter can’t enjoy the mundane yet warm life, constantly slipping into daydreams of adventure. He was drawn to something that was ultimately bad for him and those around him. By the end, though, we finally see Drake settle down in a pristine beach house with his wife and daughter. It’s the story of a man overcoming his need for adventure and finally becoming content with, and even satisfied, with a simpler life.Naughty Dog wants to end the franchise there and that’s the right choice. The story of Nathan Drake is over. It was satisfying and complete. There is no reason to milk the franchise for more. Furthermore, Naughty Dog will escape the Assassin’s Creed or Call of Duty trap where they feel forced to make a new Uncharted game every two years. Now, they can explore new concepts, new genres, and new gameplay mechanics. I’d much rather see Naughty Dog stretch their wings instead of staying confined to a specific formula.
With all this said, there is still an elephant in the room, a short live-action trailer for the PlayStation 5. The trailer used to inform fans that PS5’s are back on store shelves also showed a glimpse of a young woman walking through some catacombs. She is facing an ancient table with a cube sitting on top. No game like this has been announced and it looks awfully similar to Uncharted. Could that be Drake’s daughter, Cassie, on a treasure hunt of her own?Naughty Dog never said that Uncharted is over; just that they are done with Uncharted. Sony has several other studios that could pick up the mantle. I believe, with a franchise as popular as Uncharted, that Sony wouldn’t give up on it that easily. I do think it’s unnecessary from a story perspective but I’m excited to potentially encounter another beloved Uncharted set piece. With that said, the game would have to do some specific things to avoid tarnishing the Uncharted name.First, Nathan Drake’s story should be over. His ending was impeccable, and anything more would ruin his character development. I could see Cassie taking the reins and Nathan Drake taking a support role, or more likely, the father who desperately hopes his daughter doesn’t follow his path. Another option, which I may prefer, is a whole new set of characters. Uncharted characters are beloved but they won’t be if they are overused. I could see a new game introducing new characters that we will hopefully fall in love with just as much as the original. Secondly, it would need to hit the same lighthearted tone with an intriguing story. Uncharted’s story was always fun and I would not like it if a future entry dipped too far into the dark and dreary. That said, you can still tell a meaningful story without it being too dark. Look at Uncharted 4 for example.So, if another studio is developing Uncharted, or not, I’m just glad Naughty Dog is leaving it behind. Too often, studios are shoehorned into making the same game for years on end. The studio told a complete story with Uncharted 1 through 4. It takes restraint to stop a series when the story is complete, even if a new game would sell and perform well. Now Naughty Dog is free to work on a brand-new IP, or whatever they have up their sleeves.
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