A fresh round of industry reporting is pointing to Naughty Dog’s next project after Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and the word circulating among insiders is one PlayStation fans have waited nine years to hear: Uncharted. Multiple outlets published versions of the same claim on September 30, 2026, citing insider sourcing rather than any statement from Sony or Naughty Dog. No one at the studio has confirmed a new Uncharted game is real, in production, or scheduled for release. What exists right now is a cluster of overlapping reports, a director’s name attached to an unannounced project, and a fan base doing the math on what comes after Naughty Dog finishes its current sci-fi game.
This is a rumor story, and it should be read as one. But it’s a rumor with enough independent sourcing, enough named insiders, and enough overlapping detail across separate outlets that it has become the biggest PlayStation-adjacent story of the week. Here’s what’s actually being reported, who is saying it, what Naughty Dog has confirmed on the record, and what a new Uncharted game would mean for Sony’s release calendar heading into 2027.
What’s Being Reported About a New Uncharted Game
Push Square was among the first outlets to publish the claim on September 30, 2026, in a report titled “Rumour: New Uncharted Game in the Works at Naughty Dog, Nathan Drake Not the Lead Character.” The piece, attributing its information to industry outlet MP1st, stated that once Naughty Dog finishes Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the studio will turn its attention to a new Uncharted game, and that the project would reportedly be a new entry rather than a remaster or remake. Kotaku ran its own version the same day, under the headline “Naughty Dog Reportedly Working On A New Uncharted Game,” also crediting MP1st as the originating source and noting that Naughty Dog veteran Shaun Escayg is said to be attached.
ComicBook.com picked up the thread the following day, framing the story as “Uncharted Reboot Speculation Ramps Up Following New Naughty Dog Report,” and pointed to a separate claim from industry insider Nate The Hate that an unannounced Escayg-led project at Naughty Dog is not connected to The Last of Us. GamingBolt covered the same Nate The Hate claim, quoting the leaker’s reply when pressed for specifics: “Minor details but nothing I’m prepared to share at present.” That is the extent of the on-record detail currently available from any insider named in the coverage. No release window, no confirmed title, no platform list, and no confirmation that the project is definitely Uncharted rather than something else entirely.
Timeline: How the Rumor Broke on September 30, 2026
The reporting did not emerge from a single leak. It built over about 24 hours from several directions converging on the same name. Here is the sequence as multiple outlets have laid it out.
The spark was an MP1st report claiming Naughty Dog’s post-Intergalactic plan centers on a new Uncharted entry led by Shaun Escayg, the creative director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Push Square and Kotaku both relayed that claim on September 30. Separately, insider Nate The Hate posted on ResetEra and X that an unannounced Naughty Dog project tied to Escayg exists and is not a Last of Us game, a detail GamingBolt and ComicBook.com both reported. GamingBible also weighed in the same day, framing the convergence of reports as the clearest signal yet that an Uncharted follow-up is in Naughty Dog’s pipeline, while still describing the status as unconfirmed. By the end of the day, GameRant had added a further detail from the MP1st report: Nathan Drake is said to appear in some capacity, but not as the lead character.
None of this amounts to an announcement. It amounts to several separately sourced outlets landing on the same shape of a story within the same news cycle, which is usually a sign that something real is circulating in development circles, even if the final product looks different from the early chatter.
Who Is Shaun Escayg, and Why He’s Central to the Rumor
Shaun Escayg has been at Naughty Dog for years and is credited as the creative director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the 2017 standalone expansion that closed out the series’ PlayStation 4 era. His name resurfacing in connection with an unannounced project is the single biggest reason this rumor has legs. Fans and reporters alike have tracked his public activity for months looking for hints; a cryptic Instagram post referencing “research” earlier in 2026 was enough to send Uncharted speculation circulating well before this week’s reports, according to Kotaku’s earlier coverage of that post.
What’s notable is that none of the current reporting claims Escayg is directing a remaster or a spinoff. Every version of the story describes a new, standalone entry. That distinction matters for a franchise that has already been remastered once, as the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, and adapted into a 2022 feature film. A new mainline game, if real, would be the first original Uncharted project in nine years.
Nathan Drake’s Role: Lead Character or Cameo?
The detail generating the most debate among fans is what happens to Nathan Drake. Push Square’s report specifically states Drake is not the lead character in the new project, while still describing him as appearing “in some capacity.” GameRant’s coverage of the same underlying leak frames it similarly: Drake shows up, but someone else carries the story. That would represent a real structural shift for the series, which has centered on Drake across four mainline games and one spinoff, with The Lost Legacy already proving the format works with a different lead, since that game starred Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross instead.
It’s worth being precise about what’s actually confirmed here: nothing. The claim about Drake’s reduced role traces back to the same single MP1st report every other outlet is citing. Until Naughty Dog or Sony says otherwise, this remains one unverified data point repeated across several summaries of the same leak, not five independent confirmations.
Why Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Comes First
Every version of the Uncharted rumor agrees on one sequencing detail: whatever comes next waits until Naughty Dog ships Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the studio’s current sci-fi action-adventure game starring bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun. Naughty Dog first revealed Intergalactic in December 2024 and has said it has been in development since 2020. Studio head Neil Druckmann has said the team will stay largely quiet on the game through the rest of 2026, with a fuller look planned for 2027, a “proper look at Jordan’s wild sci-fi adventure,” in his words, though no exact 2027 date has been set.
Naughty Dog confirmed in late September 2026 that performance-capture filming for Intergalactic had wrapped, even though the game was absent from Sony’s September State of Play broadcast. That absence read to some fans as a sign the game is further from release than hoped; Naughty Dog’s framing was that the update was a progress acknowledgment, not a trigger for a new trailer. Either way, Intergalactic occupies the studio’s primary development bandwidth right now, which is exactly why any Uncharted project would need a separate team or a later start to avoid competing for the same artists, engineers, and writers.
Naughty Dog’s Track Record With Unannounced Projects
Naughty Dog running more than one project simultaneously isn’t new. Druckmann has said the studio is working on two separate projects that expand The Last of Us canon beyond Parts I and II, on top of Intergalactic. That’s a studio footprint of at least three confirmed or rumored initiatives before counting whatever Escayg is attached to, assuming the Uncharted reports are accurate and his project isn’t one of the already-known Last of Us expansions.
That multi-track structure is consistent with how the studio has operated since finishing The Last of Us Part II: smaller internal teams incubate early concepts while the bulk of the studio focuses on the next flagship release. It also explains why so little concrete detail has leaked about the Escayg project despite months of circulating speculation. Early-stage Naughty Dog projects tend to stay compartmentalized until the studio is ready to show something, which is the same pattern that preceded both Intergalactic’s eventual reveal and the studio’s past Last of Us announcements.
Market Impact: What a New Uncharted Means for Sony and PlayStation
For Sony, a confirmed new Uncharted game would fill a gap the publisher has felt for years: a globally recognizable, four-quadrant action-adventure franchise that doesn’t carry the tonal weight of The Last of Us or the genre specificity of a soulslike. Uncharted has historically served that role for PlayStation, pairing high review scores with broad commercial appeal and crossover potential, something the 2022 feature film adaptation attempted to capitalize on outside games entirely.
The timing also matters against the backdrop of PlayStation’s broader release strategy. With Intergalactic not expected to get a full reveal until 2027 and no confirmed release date yet, and with high-profile exclusives like Kojima’s Physint already having left Sony’s platform for Xbox, Sony’s first-party lineup past that point remains thin on paper. A new Uncharted entry, even in early development, gives PlayStation’s planners a long-term tentpole to point to internally, regardless of how far out an actual release sits, and comes at a time when PlayStation 6 planning is also still an open question. None of that changes the fact that, as of October 1, 2026, Sony has made no public statement acknowledging the project exists.
Historical Context: The Uncharted Franchise’s Legacy
Uncharted has been dormant as a game series since 2017. The franchise launched in 2007 with Drake’s Fortune on PlayStation 3, followed by Among Thieves in 2009 and Drake’s Deception in 2011, both also on PS3. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End arrived on PlayStation 4 in 2016 to a 93 Metacritic score, Naughty Dog’s highest-rated entry in the series. The Lost Legacy followed in 2017 at an 84 Metacritic score, and both games were bundled into the remastered Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, which released on PS5 in January 2022 and expanded to PC that October. Outside of that remaster and the 2022 theatrical film adaptation starring Tom Holland, the series has not produced a new mainline entry in nine years, which is the longest gap in Uncharted’s history and the single biggest reason this week’s rumor is generating so much attention.
Competitive Landscape: The Action-Adventure Genre Has Moved On
Nine years is a long time in a genre that hasn’t stood still. Naughty Dog essentially created the modern cinematic third-person action-adventure template with the original Uncharted trilogy, but rivals have since built entire franchises in that same space. Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, Microsoft and Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Sony’s own Ghost of Yotei from Sucker Punch, and 2026 releases like Control Resonant and Stellar Blade have all competed for the exact audience Uncharted once owned outright. Each of those franchises has released new entries within the past two years, while Uncharted has sat on the sidelines since The Lost Legacy.
That gap cuts both ways. On one hand, Naughty Dog returning to the genre it helped define, with a nine-year absence building anticipation, gives any new Uncharted entry built-in demand the moment it’s confirmed. On the other hand, the studio would be re-entering a far more crowded field than the one it left. Whatever Escayg’s project turns out to be, it will be judged against action-adventure competitors that didn’t exist, or existed in far less polished form, the last time Nathan Drake held a PlayStation controller.
What Naughty Dog and Sony Have Actually Said
It bears repeating because it’s the most important fact in this entire story: neither Naughty Dog nor Sony has confirmed, denied, teased, or otherwise acknowledged a new Uncharted game is in development. Every outlet covering this story, including Push Square, Kotaku, GamingBolt, ComicBook.com, GamingBible, and GameRant, has described it using words like “rumour,” “reportedly,” “speculation,” or “claims.” That consistency across unrelated outlets is itself telling, both about how seriously each outlet is taking the underlying sourcing and about how far this still is from an actual announcement.
Sony’s own public communications in recent weeks have focused on Intergalactic’s performance-capture milestone and the studio’s 2027 reveal plans, with zero mention of Uncharted in any official capacity. Until that changes, every number, name, and plot detail attached to this story should be treated as reporting on a leak, not as a product fact sheet.
Naughty Dog’s Current Project Timeline
| Project | Status as of October 1, 2026 | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet | In active development | Announced December 2024; in development since 2020; performance capture completed late September 2026; full reveal planned for 2027, no date set |
| The Last of Us canon expansions | Confirmed by Neil Druckmann, unspecified scope | Druckmann has said Naughty Dog is working on two projects extending the franchise beyond Parts I and II |
| Unannounced Shaun Escayg project | Rumored, unconfirmed | Reported by Nate The Hate as not related to The Last of Us; speculated by multiple outlets to be a new Uncharted entry |
| Rumored new Uncharted game | Unconfirmed, sourced to MP1st report | Reportedly a new entry, not a remake; said to follow Intergalactic’s release; Nathan Drake reportedly appears but is not the lead |
Uncharted Franchise Release History and Scores
| Title | Release Year | Platform(s) | Metacritic Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune | 2007 | PlayStation 3 | Not covered in this report |
| Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | 2009 | PlayStation 3 | Not covered in this report |
| Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception | 2011 | PlayStation 3 | Not covered in this report |
| Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | 2016 | PlayStation 4, PS5 and PC via Legacy of Thieves Collection | 93 |
| Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | 2017 | PlayStation 4, PS5 and PC via Legacy of Thieves Collection | 84 (based on 104 critic reviews) |
| Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection | 2022 (PS5), 2022 (PC) | PlayStation 5, Windows | Remastered compilation of A Thief’s End and The Lost Legacy |
Why This Rumor Is Different From Past Uncharted Speculation
Uncharted speculation isn’t new; Escayg’s Instagram “research” post sparked an earlier round of fan theorizing months before this week’s reports, as Kotaku documented at the time. What separates this round is the number of independently bylined outlets converging on the same claim within a single 24-hour window, and the fact that the sourcing has shifted from a cryptic social post to an actual named insider, Nate The Hate, making a specific claim about what the project is not, paired with a separate report from MP1st describing what it reportedly is. Two different sourcing threads landing on the same project is a stronger signal than either thread alone, even though neither has been confirmed by Naughty Dog.
It’s also worth noting what hasn’t leaked: a title, a release window, a platform list, screenshots, or concept art. Compare that to how Intergalactic’s own road to announcement played out, with Naughty Dog controlling its reveal timeline closely until it was ready. If an Uncharted project is real, Naughty Dog appears to be following the same playbook, letting outside reporting fill the silence rather than confirming or denying anything itself.
5 Predictions for What Happens Next
- Naughty Dog and Sony will almost certainly continue declining to comment on the rumor directly, consistent with how the studio handled speculation ahead of Intergalactic’s own reveal.
- Expect additional insider claims and “clarifications” from figures like Nate The Hate and outlets like MP1st over the coming weeks, adding detail without resolving the core uncertainty.
- Any official confirmation, if it comes, is unlikely before Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet ships or receives its promised 2027 reveal, given Naughty Dog’s stated sequencing.
- If Nathan Drake’s reduced role is accurate, expect Naughty Dog to frame any eventual reveal around a new protagonist, similar to how The Lost Legacy was positioned around Chloe Frazer rather than Drake.
- Competitive pressure from Ghost of Yotei, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and the Tomb Raider franchise will likely factor into how, and how soon, Sony chooses to market any confirmed Uncharted project once it’s ready to talk publicly.
What to Watch For: Signs This Rumor Is Becoming Official
With the Golden Joystick Awards 2026 nominee list already locked without a new Uncharted entry anywhere on it, this rumor is strictly about the future, not the present awards season. Readers tracking this story should watch for a few specific signals rather than relying on fresh insider claims alone. A LinkedIn job posting from Naughty Dog referencing a project separate from Intergalactic would be a concrete tell, as would any trademark filing tied to a new Uncharted subtitle. A statement from Neil Druckmann acknowledging a third active project, beyond Intergalactic and the two Last of Us expansions he’s already confirmed, would also meaningfully change the credibility of this rumor. None of those signals have surfaced yet as of October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a new Uncharted game officially confirmed?
No. As of October 1, 2026, neither Naughty Dog nor Sony has confirmed a new Uncharted game. The story is based on reporting from MP1st, relayed by Push Square, Kotaku, GamingBolt, ComicBook.com, GamingBible, and GameRant, along with a separate claim from insider Nate The Hate.
Who is directing the rumored new Uncharted game?
Reports point to Shaun Escayg, the creative director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, though Naughty Dog has not confirmed he is attached to any new Uncharted project.
Will Nathan Drake be in the new Uncharted game?
According to the MP1st report cited by Push Square and GameRant, Drake reportedly appears in some capacity but is not the lead character. This detail is unconfirmed by Naughty Dog.
When would a new Uncharted game release?
No release window has been reported. Multiple outlets state the project would follow Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which itself has no confirmed release date and is not expected to get a full public reveal until 2027.
What is Naughty Dog currently working on?
Confirmed projects include Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, in development since 2020 and announced in December 2024, and two unspecified projects expanding The Last of Us canon beyond Parts I and II, according to Neil Druckmann.
Is the rumored project a remake of an older Uncharted game?
No. Every outlet covering the leak describes it as a new entry in the series, not a remaster or remake. Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy were already remastered together in the 2022 Legacy of Thieves Collection.
How long has it been since the last Uncharted game?
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy released in August 2017, making it nine years since the series’ last new mainline entry as of 2026, not counting the 2022 remaster collection or the 2022 feature film.
Where did this rumor originate?
The core claim traces back to a report from industry outlet MP1st, which was then covered independently by Push Square, Kotaku, GamingBolt, ComicBook.com, GamingBible, and GameRant on and around September 30, 2026. A separate, related claim from insider Nate The Hate added detail about an Escayg-led project not being connected to The Last of Us.