New Uncharted Rumor Gains Support From NateTheHate, but Naughty Dog Plans Remain Unconfirmed

Rumors surrounding a new Uncharted game have picked up momentum after prominent leaker NateTheHate indicated that he had heard about a project connected to Shaun Escayg at Naughty Dog. The claim follows a separate report alleging that an all-new entry in Sony's treasure-hunting adventure series is in development and could be the studio's next major game after Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

There is still plenty that has not been confirmed. Naughty Dog has not announced another Uncharted, has not identified its next project after Intergalactic, and has not commented on the reported involvement of Escayg or series star Nathan Drake. The story should therefore be treated as a rumor rather than a confirmation of the franchise's return.

Even so, NateTheHate's response is notable because he has previously shared accurate information on projects including the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, as well as the existence of remakes for Star Fox and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. His comments do not validate every element of the larger report, but they do add weight to the narrower suggestion that a new Uncharted may be associated with Escayg and Naughty Dog.

What the new Uncharted rumor claims

The initial claim describes the supposed project as a completely new Uncharted installment rather than a remake or remaster. That distinction matters. The franchise has received updated releases before, including Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and the PlayStation 5 and PC release of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, but a newly developed sequel or successor would represent a more consequential return for the series.

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Nathan Drake is said to be involved in some capacity. However, the report does not establish whether he would once again be the central playable character. That ambiguity leaves a wide range of possibilities open: Drake could lead the adventure, appear as a mentor or supporting figure, or feature in another role that allows the series to shift its perspective to someone new.

That question is particularly important because Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was designed as a major closing chapter for Nathan Drake. Its ending offered a sense of resolution for Drake, Elena, and their family, while Uncharted: The Lost Legacy demonstrated that the universe could work without him in the lead role. Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross carried that standalone adventure, proving there are established characters who could support further stories if Naughty Dog chose to continue broadening the series.

The rumor also says Shaun Escayg is leading the project. Escayg has deep experience with the property. He served as lead cinematic designer on Uncharted 4 before directing The Lost Legacy, an expansion that evolved into a full release. More recently, he was creative director on Crystal Dynamics' Marvel's Avengers. His reported connection naturally makes the possibility of a new Uncharted easier to imagine, though it remains unverified until Naughty Dog makes a formal statement.

NateTheHate backs one part of the story

Before the wider report emerged, NateTheHate had hinted that he had learned "minor details" about a Naughty Dog project involving Escayg. When asked directly about the subsequent Uncharted rumor, he clarified that a new entry in the franchise was the project he had been referring to.

That is the clearest apparent corroboration currently available, but it is also limited. His comments support the idea that something related to Uncharted may be underway. They do not publicly establish the project's scope, development status, intended platforms, release window, cast, gameplay approach, or whether Nathan Drake will be the protagonist.

For a series with as much history as Uncharted, those unanswered questions are substantial. A fresh adventure led by Nathan Drake would carry very different expectations from a Chloe-focused follow-up, an ensemble story, a prequel, or a game centered on an entirely new explorer. Likewise, the difference between early concept work and a project deep into production can be years.

It is also worth remembering that internal game plans can change. Studios explore concepts, build prototypes, alter teams, and sometimes cancel projects long before the public hears about them. Even if the reported project exists in some form, the final game could look very different from the version described in current rumors.

The Last of Us Part 3 claim is not supported

One aspect of the discussion has drawn a much more cautious response. The original rumor also suggested that The Last of Us Part 3 would follow the alleged new Uncharted game. NateTheHate has explicitly said that he does not know anything about Naughty Dog's future The Last of Us projects, meaning he is not backing that part of the claim.

Naughty Dog president Neil Druckmann has recently reconfirmed that two projects connected to The Last of Us are in development at the studio, though he characterized them as being in "very early stages." That is meaningful confirmation that work involving the franchise is taking place, but it does not identify either project as The Last of Us Part 3.

The distinction is essential. A franchise project might be a full sequel, but it could also be a different kind of game, an early exploratory effort, a collaboration, or another initiative that does not resemble a direct continuation of The Last of Us Part II. Until Naughty Dog provides specifics, claims about the identity and order of its future releases should be viewed with restraint.

Intergalactic remains Naughty Dog's stated priority

For now, Naughty Dog's clearest publicly known focus is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The studio's next original game is expected to receive a proper reveal sometime next year. That project is the one fans can reasonably expect Naughty Dog to discuss before any hypothetical return to Uncharted or further clarification on its The Last of Us work.

The placement of a rumored Uncharted game after Intergalactic would make strategic sense on a basic level, as the studio has often moved between projects with distinct tones and settings. But that observation is not proof of a schedule. Naughty Dog is one of PlayStation's most closely watched studios, and its projects tend to spend long periods out of public view before receiving full announcements.

The alleged timing also raises practical questions about the studio's structure. If Intergalactic remains the immediate priority while multiple The Last of Us projects are in their earliest phases, then a reported Uncharted game could imply separate leadership groups or a production arrangement that has not yet been publicly outlined. None of that has been confirmed.

Why an Uncharted return would be significant

Uncharted has been one of PlayStation's defining action-adventure series since Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The games combined cinematic set pieces, globe-spanning archaeology, climbing, puzzles, gunfights, and a character-driven tone that helped shape the modern blockbuster PlayStation identity. Nathan Drake became one of the brand's most recognizable protagonists, while later entries expanded the spotlight to memorable supporting characters.

At the same time, the series ended its most prominent storylines in ways that made a direct continuation challenging. Any new installment would need to balance nostalgia for Drake and his companions with the need to justify another adventure. Bringing back a familiar character without undoing the emotional closure of A Thief's End would be a delicate creative task.

Escayg's reported involvement is therefore one reason the rumor has attracted attention. His work on both Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy gives him firsthand experience with the franchise at two different points: the conclusion of Drake's central arc and an effort to prove that the wider world could sustain another kind of story. If he is indeed involved, that background could be valuable in deciding where the series goes next.

What fans should take away for now

There is enough here to make the prospect of a new Uncharted worth watching, especially with NateTheHate saying that his earlier Naughty Dog tease referred to the franchise. But it is not enough to treat the project as announced or to assume the reported details are final.

• A rumor claims Naughty Dog is working on an all-new Uncharted rather than a remake.
• Nathan Drake is said to be involved, but his role is unclear.
• Shaun Escayg is reportedly leading the project.
• NateTheHate has supported the core idea of a new Uncharted connected to Escayg.
• He has not supported the claim that The Last of Us Part 3 will follow it.
• Naughty Dog has confirmed two early-stage The Last of Us projects, but not their identities.
• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet remains the studio's principal publicly known upcoming game.

Until Naughty Dog speaks directly, the reported return of Nathan Drake's world remains an intriguing possibility rather than a certainty. With Intergalactic still awaiting its fuller reveal and the studio's The Last of Us plans only beginning to take shape, fans may have to wait some time before the picture becomes clearer.