Reports from MP1st and VGC point to a new Uncharted project at Naughty Dog, not a remake. Nathan Drake is expected to appear in some form.
Naughty Dog has not announced a new Uncharted game. The case for one being in development has grown stronger, though. Reports from MP1st and Video Games Chronicle support the claim that the project is a new entry rather than a remake. They also say Nathan Drake will return in some capacity.
The new evidence
The latest speculation followed an update from President Neil Druckmann on The Last of Us Day 2026. Druckmann discussed two upcoming The Last of Us projects and said both were at a very early stage. He did not announce an Uncharted project or publicly confirm the separate team believed to be working on one.
As Video Games Chronicle reports, that update is not an official confirmation that the franchise is returning.
An active Naughty Dog team working on a game unrelated to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has been known for some time. Reports say Shaun Escayg leads that team. VGC and MP1st identify Escayg as the person overseeing the alleged project. He previously directed Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which makes his involvement important context, but not confirmation from the studio. VGC also describes the reported Uncharted game as Naughty Dog's next project after Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Druckmann also shared a research photo that appeared to show a location with the kind of archaeological, remote setting associated with Uncharted. On its own, the image would be weak evidence. Alongside the two reports and the earlier link between Escayg's team and an unannounced project, it carries more weight. The image still does not officially reveal the game's setting, story or gameplay.
The rumour assessment attached to the report puts the claim at 85 per cent and gives its source strength a score of 5 out of 5. Those figures are an editorial assessment, not confirmation from Naughty Dog or Sony.
Not another remake
MP1st reports that the project is being built as a new game rather than another remake. The publication also says Nathan Drake will appear in some form. It stresses that the available information does not show whether he would be the main character, a supporting character or a cameo.
VGC has independently backed the central claim through its own sources. It has not added details about the story, platforms or release timing.
That leaves the lead character unknown. Fans have previously speculated that Cassie Drake could take the central role in a future instalment. Nathan's reported involvement does not rule that out. He could appear as a supporting character while Cassie leads a new story in a role closer to Victor Sullivan's position in earlier games.
Nothing in the available reporting confirms Cassie as the protagonist. It also does not establish whether Nathan would be playable or simply part of the story. A returning character can mean anything from a brief appearance to a substantial role.
A decade since Drake
The timing gives the rumour a clear franchise context. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is now ten years old. Lost Legacy followed in 2017, with Chloe Frazer as its protagonist and Nadine Ross in support. Both Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy were later released together in 2022 as Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
That same year brought the film adaptation, starring Tom Holland as a young Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as Victor Sullivan. The film nearly quadrupled its budget at the box office. Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman called it the start of a hit franchise. Sony later said a sequel was in development, though that statement is now more than two years old.
These dates and figures explain why a new game would matter to Sony's wider Uncharted plans. They do not prove that the game and film sequel are connected. If both projects remain active, matching their release dates could be attractive, but no such schedule has been reported.
What remains unknown
There is no confirmed title beyond the possibility of an Uncharted 5 project. There is also no release window, platform list or announcement from Naughty Dog. The reports do not establish the game's development stage beyond the broader indication that a team has been working on an unrelated project for some time.
They also do not confirm whether the game is a direct continuation of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
The narrowest strong conclusion is this: the evidence points to a new Uncharted game rather than a remake, and Nathan Drake is likely to be involved. That does not make the project officially revealed. Naughty Dog's silence remains a major limit. Claims about Cassie Drake's role or a linked film launch are still speculation.
For players, the difference between a report and an announcement matters. There is no verified release plan to follow and no confirmed design direction to assess. The reporting is still strong enough to move the story beyond a fan theory. A new Uncharted project with Nathan Drake somewhere in its cast is now a highly credible possibility. The sensible NGB position is to treat it as a strong rumour until Naughty Dog puts its name to the game.
A remake rebuilds an existing game with updated assets and technology. A new entry creates another chapter in the same franchise. That difference changes expectations about story continuity, characters and gameplay, not just visual quality. Until Naughty Dog shows footage or shares formal project details, there is no basis for judging whether this reported game would continue Uncharted 4: A Thief's End directly or establish a new lead through Cassie Drake.
For now, reporting from Video Games Chronicle and MP1st supports a specific but limited picture. Naughty Dog is allegedly preparing a new Uncharted game. Shaun Escayg is reportedly leading development. Nathan Drake is expected to appear in some capacity. The same reports make clear that Sony and Naughty Dog have not publicly announced the project. Its plot, platforms, release timing and precise development status remain unknown.
