TheUnchartedseries left things on a high note withUncharted: The Lost Legacy, which circled around fan-favorite Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross. Now, with the franchise seemingly finished and put on the shelf, it’s interesting to see which directions Naughty Dog will take after itsLast of Usonline game has been canceled. Thus, ifUnchartedever gets picked back up, that unfortunate circumstance may affect it somewhat.
Naughty Dog’s Goodbye to the Last of Us Multiplayer Must Have Rung Bells Already
Uncharted’s multiplayer modewas always more than just an afterthought.The multiplayer mode was beloved from its humble beginnings inDrake’s Fortuneto the more polished, feature-rich experiences inUncharted 2,3, and4. It was a way for players to balance out the larger-than-life single-player campaigns and might’ve been a sign of things to come in future Naughty Dog endeavors, though multiplayer in general has drifted away from the studio, leading to the recent cancelation of its standalone online title.
With Naughty Dog’s recent move away from multiplayer inThe Last of Us Part 2and thecancelation of the planned standaloneThe Last of Usmultiplayer game, it’s possible that even if there’s anUnchartedrevival in the works, it probably won’t feature a multiplayer mode. If Naughty Dog isn’t going for the former, it likely won’t go for the latter, either.
Multiplayer Gaming Is Navigating Differently for Now
The decision toabandon multiplayer inThe Last of Us Part 2came as a shock to many, especially since the firstLast of Usfeatured the highly acclaimed Factions mode. That said, Naughty Dog would’ve needed to split its focus to a detrimental degree and is choosing to maintain all of its focus on single-player experiences.
Chances of an Uncharted Revival Are Now Stronger but Far From Certain
Troy Baker, who voiced Nathan Drake’s brother Sam inUncharted 4: A Thief’s EndandThe Lost Legacy, will be involved inNaughty Dog’s next game. For fans ofUncharted, this might sound like a promising sign that the beloved franchise could return, especially with Baker’s involvement in a potentially pivotal role. But, as with any rumors and speculation surrounding Naughty Dog’s future projects, it’s important to temper excitement, as the studio’s next steps remain unclear.
There are also rumors of a newsteampunk-themed game calledStray’s Crossin development. Naughty Dog is known for pursuing fresh, innovative projects, so a return to its iconic treasure-hunting franchise may not exactly be immediate. If anything, it’s more likely that the next game would be a new IP altogether and even if it’sUncharted, it likely once again won’t have multiplayer.
