Deep within the development files of acclaimed PlayStation titles, a fascinating secret has been unearthed. Recent datamining efforts have revealed evidence suggesting that Sony explored a full remake of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, leaving behind digital breadcrumbs buried within the files for both The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II.
This discovery points to an internal experiment that may have never seen the light of day. Datamining has suggested that Sony’s Visual Arts Support Group experimented with developing the remake around 2018–2019. The goal was not just a simple remaster, but a complete reimagining of the classic adventure.
The trail leads to some truly creative testing. It appears the team attempted to rebuild iconic sequences, such as the famous plane-to-island sequence from Drake’s Fortune, using visuals from Uncharted 4 as a proof-of-concept. This ambitious test scene was created within the same game engine used for The Last of Us Part II, which is why fragments of this experimental work later appeared in those game files.
One dataminer explained that this internal effort included recreating a pivotal moment: Nate and Elena navigating the plane, being shot down, and parachuting out. They tested how these cinematic moments would look using the advanced graphics of Uncharted 4.
While leaks had previously hinted at this specific sequence, the latest findings show additional assets tied to this internal effort, confirming that a slice of the original game was indeed rebuilt internally before the project faced an unexpected pivot.
Ultimately, the full remake did not move forward. The decision came down to creative direction: Naughty Dog opted instead for extensive modernization across The Last of Us Part I. This choice shifted the focus away from Uncharted, a move many fans felt was a disappointment given the original game’s stunning visuals and the quality of its existing PS4 remaster.
It’s worth noting that this internal history highlights a fascinating creative dilemma for Sony. Some observers suggest that of all Naughty Dog’s titles, Uncharted 1 would have been the most deserving candidate for a full remake. While other Uncharted entries have aged gracefully, a fresh attempt on the first adventure might have resonated more deeply with fans than another re-release of The Last of Us.
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Credit: KitGuru
