Ever wonder why seemingly every major video game release is a prequel, sequel or spin-off to an established franchise? It's because that's all everyone seems to buy and it's all everyone wants to know about. Let's take Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception for instance, a game that's not even out yet but one that Harrison Ford loves. Early reviews are nothing short of positive (yes, early reviews always are) but we've played it a bit and know it's good. What's interesting is that with the game not even on store shelves till next week, there's already buzz about Uncharted 4. See how this works?

This isn't new or surprising - we see it with all major video game releases. We're already talking about Mass Effect 4 and Mass Effect MMOs while ME3 doesn't even release until next March. It's happened with Batman: Arkham City and it's happening right now with Assassin's Cred 3.

So, what does Naughty Dog, the developer behind the Uncharted games, have to say?

In chatting with Official PlayStation Magazine UK, Uncharted 3 game director Justin Richmond briefly talks about the future for Nathan Drake and the Uncharted franchise.

"We just finished this one and we're going to go back to the studio and sort of figure out where we're headed. We've always said that there are a ton of Drake adventures out there and we haven’t told all of them yet, and as long as fans want the games and as long as we find something that’s interesting and will push the medium forward, we’ll continue to make them. But we haven't decided what the next thing is."

I guess that means Nathan lives. Spoiler!

The next "thing" will definitely be Uncharted 4 since this is a flagship series for Sony. Assuming it takes 2-3 years to develop, it could be a launch title for the PlayStation 4 where the franchise could continue its dominance as a leader in the graphics and cinematic department for the industry. In fact, Naughty Dog already said the PS3 couldn't handle Uncharted 4 so take that as confirmation that the series is done with the current generation.

If you're picking up Uncharted 3, read up on The Fortune Hunters' Club DLC season pass and check out the latest gameplay trailer which focuses on melee combat in multiplayer.

Any ideas for the next Drake adventure?

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will hit us with an iron fist when it releases November 1, 2011, for the PS3.

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Source: OPM UK