Naughty Dog's Uncharted 4 makes yet another milestone as developers reminisce over the game's iconic legacy.
Released back in 2016, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has now reached its 5th birthday. Oh, how time flies!
To commemorate the historic moment, Naughty Dog recently shared some intriguing statistics concerning player numbers. Better still, these stats give us decent insight into the game's enduring appeal—even today.
Alongside these exciting revelations, we've also heard from people involved in making the game. Some of whom have chosen Twitter to voice their stories and experiences with fans of the franchise.
According to Naughty Dog, Uncharted 4 has accumulated 37 million players over its 5-year lifespan. Of course, I should note that a portion of these players may not count as direct sales.
After all, the game did go free-to-play as part of the PS Plus subscription service at one stage. Nevertheless, it's a staggering statistic. And well-worth a party-popper or two. Possibly the champers if we're feeling generous.
Either way, 37 million acts as a worthy cause for celebration, I'd say!
A Message from Naughty Dog | Uncharted 4
Thanking fans for their continued support Naughty Dog celebrated the occasion on Twitter with the following post:
"To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End's release, we want to thank the players who joined us and Nathan Drake on this wild ride," Naughty Dog announced. "Remember to play with the lemur!"
Accompanying the tweet is a personal message to fans, plus further info on the game's impressive player counts. Also contained within are a series of stats that will no doubt delight the game's player base.
For instance, Naughty Dog says Uncharted 4 has amassed 13.3 million multiplayer players over its life cycle. Elsewhere, some of the other stats are slightly more obscure. Even so, they'll be more than familiar to fans.
These include the beloved toy-gun scene. In the post, Naughty Dog revealed that 12 million players managed to shoot all the required targets. That's pretty good going. Sadly, I wasn't one of them!
Additionally, 2 million players captured Sully using photo mode.
A Poignant Time to Reflect
In a moment of reflection, video game voice actor Troy Baker shared his memories while working on Uncharted 4. Now, you may remember Troy as Nathan's brother, Sam.
Here is what Troy Baker said:
"This game represents so much to me," Baker expressed. "Not just as an actor but as a fan. This franchise simultaneously entertained me and showed me a star on the horizon to which I could point and say 'There. That's where I want to go."
Next in line was Kurt Margenau, joint director for Uncharted 4, who also contributed to the occasion with a few words. While listing some of his most memorable moments, Margenau said he's "still so proud of that game."
"5 years ago we shipped Uncharted 4. Still so proud of that game. The Chase, the rope, the jeep, the Crash, the End... So many moments I couldn't wait for people to play," he stated."Thanks Dogs that helped bring it together, watching this trailer still gets me."
Among his examples shared is the nostalgic scene involving Crash Bandicoot, which enabled players to relive the classic PS1 title during a cute cutscene between Nathan and Elena.
Undoubtedly, a special moment. At least for all of us old enough to have had the pleasure!
All in all, it fills me with glee to hear these heartfelt sentiments. If nothing else, it's abundantly clear that Uncharted 4 holds a special place in their hearts.
What's more, I'm sure many more fans feel the same way.
What's Next for Naughty Dog? Life After Uncharted 4
Good question. For those wondering about the future of Uncharted, Sony's in-house studio Bend was reportedly developing a new title in the franchise. At a point in time.
Unfortunately, though, a recent report suggests that development on that game got cut short, the exact reasons for which are unclear.
As a result, the studio was supposedly moved off the project. With no sign of a Days Gone sequel in view, the same team has now turned their attention to "a new game of their own." Or so the report suggests.
In the coming months, it’ll be interesting to see whether those claims bear any fruit. As for Naughty Dog, in the past, they've been quite clear that Nathan Drake's story arch has come to a close. Equally, it appears as though the developer isn’t looking to make a new Uncharted title.
Of course, that doesn't appear to rule out the notion of a new studio taking the helm. And with it, a fresh primary protagonist. In theory, that could mean any numbers of outcomes.
So then. With Uncharted out the way, what on earth could Naughty Dog be working on next? Well, the current consensus is that a remake of The Last of Us is on the cards for PS5. That, alongside a multiplayer game.
But if I were a gambling guy, I'd hedge my bets on The Last of Us 3. However, we cannot neglect the prospect of an entirely new IP. Although that, perhaps, is more of a risk.
Either way, I'm excited to see what Naughty has tucked up its talented sleeve with the next AAA release.
If it's any bit as good as previous projects, then there's ample reason to get excited. For now, though, we'll just revel at these startling statistics, shall we?
That concludes today's topic. What do you make of Uncharted 4? Are you surprised by its long-term success? Also, would you be happy to see another developer take the helm if it meant further instalments?
Lastly, which is your favourite Uncharted game in the franchise?
Like always, be sure to send us your opinions below. I love reading them all.