Naughty Dog is seemingly “moving on” from the Uncharted series, but is still open to The Last of Us: Part 3. However, there is a catch.
News of a potential new entry in Naughty Dog’s popular Uncharted series has been pretty much non-existent. However, recent news of the studio apparently being done with the series will not be comforting to hear for its legion of passionate fans.
Is Naughty Dog really done with Uncharted?
During an interview with BuzzFeed, Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann explained that the studio is in “a very privileged position” with Sony having no pressure to churn out sequels to satisfy board members.
Druckmann went on to explain that despite 2016’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End being one of the studio’s best-selling games, there is no pressure to make another entry. In fact, judging by what Druckmann said, we might not see another Uncharted game again.
“For us, Uncharted was insanely successful,” said the Naughty Dog president. “Uncharted 4 was one of our best-selling games, and we’re able to put our final brushstroke on that story and say that we’re done. We’re moving on.”
At quick glance, the words of Druckmann might imply that they’ll be no more Uncharted games. However, perhaps I’m being overly optimistic, but maybe there’s some positive news when reading between the lines.
Naughty Dog isn’t the only Uncharted studio
Maybe, just maybe, Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog is done with Uncharted in terms of developing a new game in-house. However, that doesn’t mean that the Uncharted licence couldn’t be outsourced to another studio.
After all, Days Gone and Syphon Filter team, Bend Studio developed the criminally underrated prequel for the PS Vita, Uncharted: Golden Abyss in 2011. Bend Studio also developed the digital card game, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune.
What’s more, in January 2022, Uncharted game director, Kurt Margenau didn’t rule out the possibility of there being more games in the series.
At the time, Margenau told Gamesradar: “I think we can say for certain that we can never say never. Yeah. Uncharted is a franchise we love that the studio loves, I love, and Kurt loves,” he added. “It’s a world we want to see more of. So, I can certainly say that.”
So, what about The Last of Us: Part 3?
While on the topic of The Last of Us: Part 3, Druckmann said that as long as Naughty Dog: “can come up with a compelling story that has this universal message and statement about love,” TLOU3 might happen. This may sound a little mushy, but at its core, both TLOU 1 and 2 were about bonds with loved ones.
Ultimately, whether or not we get a third game in The Last of Us series, that onus lies with Naughty Dog as to whether it can continue to make its universe compelling enough to exist.
“With The Last of Us, it’s up to us whether we want to continue it or not,” concluded Druckmann. “If we can’t come up with something, we have a very strong ending with Part 2 and that will be the end.”
Surely, there’s still life in the old dog?
In my opinion, I think the arrival of The Last of Us: Part 3 is very likely. Especially in 2021, Druckmann has already stated that an outline for its story has been written. Furthermore, on the prospect of there being a third game, Druckmann also teased that the series has “more stories to tell.”
As for the Uncharted series, I don’t think we’ll be seeing the last of that either. Whether future stories are told by another developer with or without Nathan Drake, remains to be seen.
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Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog/Source: BuzzFeed