Uncharted (series)

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***Uncharted*** (stylized as **UNCHARTED**) is a video game series and multimedia franchise created and originally developed by Naughty Dog. It is published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for its PlayStation line of consoles as well as personal computers and mobile devices.

The games combine elements and gameplay mechanics of action-adventure, third-person shooting, platforming, stealth and puzzle-solving. The four mainline titles in the series follow the adventures of Nathan Drake, an American adventurer and treasure hunter who is believed to be a descendant of English privateer Francis Drake. In each game, Drake uncovers a mythical treasure or lost city as he opposes mercenaries and criminals who seek the treasures for themselves. The games include several recurring and game-specific supporting characters who support Drake's quests, including his mentor Victor Sullivan, love interest Elena Fisher and fellow treasure hunter Chloe Frazer.

The franchise began with 2007's *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* for the PlayStation 3, inspired by rival Microsoft's *Gears of War* franchise and *Indiana Jones* movies. Naughty Dog developed three sequels: *Uncharted 2: Among Thieves* (2009), *Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception* (2011) and *Uncharted 4: A Thief's End* (2016), the last one concluding Drake's story arc. A standalone expansion pack for *A Thief's End*, *Uncharted: The Lost Legacy* (2017), served as Naughty Dog's final title in the series. Beyond the core titles, *Uncharted* includes several spin-off releases and remaster collections, most notably Bend Studio's *Uncharted: Golden Abyss* (2012). The franchise also expanded beyond video games, including a novel, a comic series, a motion-comic mini-series and a feature-length film.

The *Uncharted* series was highly acclaimed by critics and was a commercial success, selling over 40 million copies by 2017. The series received widespread praise for its elaborated set-pieces, action sequences, production values, graphical and technological advancements, writing, characterization and multiplayer modes. Alongside *The Last of Us*, *Uncharted* has been credited for elevating Naughty Dog's status as a game developer.

## Games

Main installments
* *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* (2007)
* *Uncharted 2: Among Thieves* (2009)
* *Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception* (2011)
* *Uncharted 4: A Thief's End* (2016)

Spin-offs
* *Uncharted: Golden Abyss* (2011)
* *Uncharted: Fight for Fortune* (2012)
* *Uncharted: Fortune Hunter* (2016)
* *Uncharted: The Lost Legacy* (2017)

Compilations
* *Uncharted: Dual Pack* (2010) - a compilation of *Drake's Fortune* and *Among Thieves*
* *Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection* (2015) - a remastered compilation of *Drake's Fortune*, *Among Thieves* and *Drake's Deception*
* *Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection* (2022) - a remastered compilation of *A Thief's End* and *The Lost Legacy*

### Mainline entires

#### *Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* (2007)

*Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* was released in November 2007 for the PlayStation 3.

## Premise and setting

The *Uncharted* series takes place on modern-day earth and includes multiple locations, both existing and based on legends and mythology while incorporating elements of treasure hunting communities and the criminal underworld. Each game takes place in its own locations and often follows a structure of exploring real-life locations before gradually moving to fictional and folklore-based areas.

*Uncharted: Drake's Fortune* is primarily set on an uncharted island off the coast of South America that harbors the ruins of a fallen Spanish colony as well as remnants of Nazi explorers. The game's early parts also take place off the coast of Panama as well as an unidentified region within the Amazon rainforests. Much of the game's story is influenced by the history and final days of Sir Francis Drake.

*Uncharted 2: Among Thieves* sees the series starting to become a globe-trotting adventure. The story goes around a museum in Istanbul, Turkey; forests in Borneo; urban districts in war-torn Nepal; various locals in the Tibetan Plateau including a remote village and the Himalaya mountains; and the fabled city of Shambhala which serves as the game's climax. Elements of the story and setting are inspired by the adventures of Marco Polo.

*Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception* takes place in locations such as London's streets and underground train system; a desolate Crusaders chateau in France; ruins of a citadel in Syria; the streets, shipyards and airport of Yemen; the Rub' al Khali desert and a couple of its settlements and roads; and the lost city Iram of the Pillars which serves as the game's climax. Aspects of the story are inspired by T. E. Lawrence's expeditions as well as the previously-used Francis Drake.

*Uncharted 4: A Thief's End* concludes the narrative first established in *Drake's Fortune*. Its story takes place in an unspecified jail in Panama; the urban environment of New Orleans; a fictional criminal-controlled estate in Italy; forsaken graveyards in the Scotland Highlands; the fictional King's Bay district in Maroantsetra, Madagascar; and an isolated island inhabiting the mythical Libertalia, which serves as the main setting of the game's final third. The majority of the game's narrative and backstory is influenced by the actions of the pirate Henry Avery.

The standalone title *Uncharted: Golden Abyss* is set an unspecified amount of time prior to the events depicted in *Drake's Fortune* and takes place in Panama and through ruins and forests in Central America. Its story and setting are influenced by the myths of the lost city Quiviria and the expeditions of Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado to find its location.

*Uncharted: The Lost Legacy* which serves as a standalone expansion to *A Thief's End* takes place between six months to a year after the base game's events. It is set in India's Western Ghats and its narrative is inspired by Hindu mythology and Hoysala history.

## Reception

The *Uncharted* series as a whole has been critically acclaimed by video game publications for its high production values, characterization, action sequences, vocal performances and advancements in graphical and technological aspects; later games were also praised for their included multiplayer modes. Out of the four main installments developed by Naughty Dog, the three sequels have all achieved universal acclaim; *Uncharted 2: Among Thieves* ties with Polyphony Digital's *Gran Turismo* as Sony's highest-rated game according to Metacritic. The *Uncharted* series, alongside 2013's *The Last of Us*, is generally credited for increasing Naughty Dog's reputation as a game developer within PlayStation Studios and the wider gaming industry.

Reception to other games within the series has been generally positive, with particular praise was given to Bend Studio's 2011 side game *Uncharted: Golden Abyss* and Naughty Dog's final *Uncharted* title, *Uncharted: The Lost Legacy*. *Uncharted: Fortune Hunter* received generally favorable reception, while *Uncharted: Fight for Fortune* received mixed reviews, the only installment in the series to not be critically praised.

Remasters of the series also witnessed positive reception. 2015's *Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection* was praised for its graphical updates and stable performance, while 2022's *Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection* was also praised for its own technical and graphical upgrades.

## Legacy

### Future

Prior to the release of *Uncharted 4: A Thief's End* in 2016, the game's creative director Neil Druckmann envisioned the game at the time as the conclusion to the *Uncharted* series and particularly Nathan Drake's character arc. Druckmann noted that he was unsure if *Uncharted* will continue afterwards and that such decision lies on Sony. On such future entry he thought: "maybe there'll be a prequel, maybe it will be a different character - I don't know. But this is the end for Nathan Drake". Following the release of *Uncharted 4*, Naughty Dog initially amused the idea of a fifth mainline installment, but the idea was scrapped in favor of the standalone expansion *Uncharted: The Lost Legacy* due to the studio's focus on *The Last of Us Part II* at the time.

In an interview with GameInformer, Naughty Dog president Evan Wells was asked whether the studio would continue with established franchises such as *Uncharted* and *The Last of Us* or pivot towards a new property, to which Evans answered that people will "see both kinds of projects from us in the future".

According to a Bloomberg report, Bend Studio, which was previously responsible for *Uncharted: Golden Abyss*, was placed to work under the series with Naughty Dog after a sequel pitch for *Days Gone* was rejected, and that the proposed title was meant to be a soft reboot separated from previous entries. Bend was taken off the project after a new project was greenlit, with Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier believing it was scrapped afterwards.

In a January 2023 interview with Buzzfeed, *A Thief's End* creative director and Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann stated that the studio was "done" with *Uncharted* and was moving on to pursue other projects.

## References

1. ↑ https://blog.playstation.com/2007/11/12/uncharted-drakes-fortune-launch-date-november-19th/
2. ↑ https://www.eurogamer.net/naughty-dogs-neil-druckmann-on-why-uncharted-has-to-end
3. ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/03/27/why-uncharted-the-lost-legacy-became-a-stand-alone-expansion.aspx
4. ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2021/08/28/naughty-by-nature-naughty-dog-leadership-reflects-on-the-studios
5. ↑ https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2021/04/09/bend-new-uncharted-game/
6. ↑ 20 "The Last Of Us" Behind-The-Scenes Facts, Straight From The Co-Creator Himself, Buzzfeed. Jokic, Natasha.