A reader has expressed frustration that no new Uncharted game has been released in over a decade, but believes the apparent lack of a second movie could work in fans' favour. The argument is that Sony may now be forced to revive the video game series to keep the franchise relevant.
Sony and Naughty Dog: A Strained Relationship?
According to the reader, Sony executives probably resent Naughty Dog. The developer has produced some of Sony's most acclaimed and popular games, but the reader suggests that Naughty Dog's developers are their own biggest fans, and imagines that interactions between Sony executives and Naughty Dog staff are tense.
Sony reportedly wants Naughty Dog to churn out sequels, but the studio has been so slow that it hasn't released a new game all generation. The reader notes that Sony would love a The Last Of Us Part 3, but there is no sign of it, and at this point it likely won't be ready until the PlayStation 6. Naughty Dog's time has been spent on The Last Of Us Online and The Last Of Us Part 1 remake, which the reader calls pointless. Six years into the generation, the studio has nothing to show for it, and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet doesn't even have a release year, let alone a date.
Uncharted's Uncertain Future
The reader points out that Sony has let many of its franchises fade away, including Uncharted, which the company explicitly said it would no longer pursue. However, the reader questions why Sony hasn't found another developer to handle the next game. Rumours have circulated that the team behind Days Gone was approached to make a new Uncharted but turned it down, and other vague rumours have involved different developers, but nothing has materialised. Sony has never promised anything, and it seems as though the company wants people to forget the series.
This is especially odd given that the 2022 Uncharted movie was a reasonable hit. It was profitable, even if not spectacular, and Sony seemed interested in making more. The reader didn't think the film was very good, but is certain that isn't the reason a sequel hasn't happened. Instead, the likely culprit is Tom Holland's apparent lack of enjoyment in the role, and only large sums of money could persuade him to return.
Tom Holland's Rising Stardom
The reader suggests that paying Tom Holland might have worked if Sony had moved quickly, but now that he's been in two of the biggest movies of the year, he has no reason to do another Uncharted. The money is small fry to him, and he didn't like the role anyway. After this year, he's unlikely to need the money desperately, so a return seems improbable.
Surprisingly, the reader sees this as good news for the franchise. If Sony can't rely on the movie to keep the name alive, a new game becomes much more important. Recasting is rare in such movies nowadays, and Sony would likely assume that even if Tom Holland wasn't the main appeal last time, audiences would miss him in a sequel. Without a movie or a game, Uncharted risks losing its status as a 'valuable IP', which is a worst-case scenario for a company that wants everything to go on forever.
A New Game on the Horizon?
The reader is willing to bet that because Tom Holland is now out of reach, and recasting doesn't make sense, Sony is already working on a new Uncharted game. It won't be at Naughty Dog, but it could be quite far along. The only question is whether it will launch on PlayStation 5 or be held back for PlayStation 6. The first step is an official announcement, which the reader hopes could happen this year.
Uncharted 4 is over 10 years old, and the reader believes a new game is long overdue. They would be much more interested in that than a new movie anyway. The reader concludes that the lack of a movie sequel could push Sony to prioritise a game, ensuring the franchise remains active.
