Naughty Dog Nearly Remade Uncharted Before Choosing The Last of Us Part I, New Rumor Claims

A new industry rumor suggests Naughty Dog was once planning a full remake of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune before ultimately shifting its focus to The Last of Us Part I. According to recent insider claims, the studio even produced an early prototype using the Uncharted 4 engine, but later decided that the scope of modernizing the original adventure was far greater than expected. It's important to note that Sony and Naughty Dog have not officially confirmed the reports.

The information comes from YouTuber and dataminer Martin "TheKempy" Kemp, who stated that work on an Uncharted remake began around 2018 in collaboration with PlayStation Visual Arts. The team reportedly recreated the famous opening sequence in which Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, and Victor "Sully" Sullivan travel to the island before their plane is attacked. However, after reviewing the prototype, developers concluded that the first Uncharted would require far more than upgraded visuals. Gameplay systems, level design, and set pieces would all need substantial redesigns to meet modern expectations.

Faced with that challenge, the project was reportedly shelved in favor of The Last of Us Part I, which was considered a more practical remake because its original gameplay required fewer structural changes. The claim also aligns with earlier reports that PlayStation Visual Arts initially led a remake project before Naughty Dog assumed full development responsibilities. Some dataminers have even pointed to unused assets inside The Last of Us Part II that they believe originated from the abandoned Uncharted prototype.

Although the remake was never officially announced, the latest rumor has reignited fan hopes that Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune could eventually receive the same treatment as The Last of Us Part I. The first game remains the oldest entry in the series and is widely considered the one that would benefit most from a complete modern remake. For now, however, the project remains unconfirmed, and fans will have to wait for an official statement from Naughty Dog or PlayStation Studios before drawing any conclusions.