Uncharted filled the void left by the Tomb Raider franchise as it fell into a decline in the mid-2000s. The puzzles, action, and stealth in Uncharted excited players, and it has become one of PlayStation's most enduring franchises. Uncharted was one of the most acclaimed series' on PlayStation, and after Uncharted 4 was released, it seemed the franchise was coming to an end. However, with a new generation of consoles on the horizon, Sony may need Uncharted back.

Uncharted enticed players with some incredible puzzles and an engaging story in 2007. From this point on, the games grew in popularity and carved out a niche that is still the benchmark of action-adventure games to this day. While the game wore its Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones influences on its sleeve, the way it balanced mechanics made it stand apart. The legacy of the series and its mechanics are still impacting the gaming market.

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Three years on from Uncharted 4, successful campaign based games are still being compared to the franchise. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order not only drew comparisons to the Uncharted series but was acclaimed for using some of the mechanics of the franchise. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order sold well and this shouldn't be surprising as the campaign driven Uncharted games have an impressive commercial record. It is because of this pull with consumers that Sony needs another game in the franchise.

audiences and uncharted

The Uncharted series sold over 41 million copies, outselling other PlayStation exclusive franchises such as God of War. As an exclusive, the games generated a huge buzz with each console it was released alongside, and this was illustrated by the sheer amount of bundles that came with each game. The Uncharted series could provide an impressive sales boost for the console like God of War did recently for the PS4. In a 43 billion dollar industry, Uncharted is a major player. More importantly, if Naughty Dog has taught the market anything from The Last of Us 2, its that players are keen to see characters return even when the story seems to have ended.

The Uncharted series is increasingly becoming an oddity in the gaming market. The creator of the game, Amy Hennig, has claimed that experiences like Uncharted wouldn't be greenlit today and this is likely because of the focus on multiplayer and loot box dependent games. However, there are still many players who want campaign orientated games and this has been shown by the sales of Fallen Order and God of War. On top of that, the Uncharted games have been so successful that a film is in the works.

While film and game tie-ins are rarely successful, a film based on Uncharted illustrates how immersive the narrative in the games was, how much of a cultural impact the games have had, and the financial impression the games have made. With stars like Mark Wahlberg attached to an Uncharted movie, it is clear that the studio believes there is an audience for a screen adaptation. The characters have depth, and they have been storyboarded to work on multiple levels as both antagonists and protagonists. It will be interesting to see how a film moulds these characters, yet many will be more invested in how a new game would continue to show characterization. The characters and how players invest them is what makes the Uncharted franchise stand out and why it has worked so well for Sony as an exclusive.

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The next generation of consoles has exclusives primed and Microsoft has already revealed plans to release Halo: Infinite alongside the launch of Project Scarlett. Sony has entrusted Naughty Dog once again to make an exclusive that will compete and the result is The Last of Us 2. While this doesn't spark an immediate need for Uncharted 5, there will undoubtedly come a time when Sony turns to a trusted franchise to boost interest in the PlayStation 5.

uncharted 5 for new generation

Whether a PS5 Pro is set for a release is yet to be confirmed. However, a series frequently associated with bundles could help ship units of an updated console. In this instance, Uncharted 5 could greatly help Sony as it attempts to beat the sales decline that usually occurs a couple of years into the lifespan of a console. There is no doubt that the franchise has the ability to shift units, the real question is when Sony will choose to develop it.

Uncharted 4 was an incredible addition to the franchise and conclusion to Nathan Drake's story, although whether it was the best game is hotly debated by fans. Whether Uncharted 5 would use Nathan Drake as a central character or follow the route of Lost Legacy remains to be seen. What is for sure is that players are invested in the franchise, and the mechanics it uses are still acclaimed long after the games respective releases. However, many fans will be happy to purchase the game regardless of the context, as it is an impressive franchise and will generate plenty of income for Sony and Naughty Dog if it is released at any time.

There is no known Uncharted game in development for the PS5.

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