Among the pages of Naughty Dog’s 30th Anniversary art book was an all-new look at Nathan Drake for the studio’s in-development sequel, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
The image comes via Kurt Margenau’s Twitter feed, who is serving as Lead Game designer on the upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive.
Drake looking next gen as f*ck at #ND30 celebration! pic.twitter.com/6RTE4BaGST
— Kurt Margenau (@kurtmargenau) September 27, 2014
Without doubt, the image showcases the stunning visual fidelity that the studio is able to achieve on current-gen hardware — as if the in-game trailer from E3 wasn’t enough evidence already. But, after scratching beneath the glossy surface, it becomes abundantly clear that our quick-witted adventurer is beginning to show his age.
And while other mid-life crises end at receding hairlines and unpaid bills, Drake will come out of retirement for one last job in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which will once again have him reunite with mentor Sully to embark on a globe-trotting journey.
Since it was announced in the latter stages of 2013, Naughty Dog’s latest has experienced its fair share of creative issues, with the series’ long-term writer Amy Hennig leaving the studio to work on an as-yet-untitled Star Wars title at Visceral Games. Moreover, Justin Richmond and Nate Wells — game director and lead artist, respectively — also departed Naughty Dog in recent months.
In their stead, the studio has recruited The Last of Us’ Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann to oversee Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which likely won’t grace the PlayStation 4 until 2016.
For more on the sequel, you can check out the official synopsis below.
“Several years after his last adventure, retired fortune hunter, Nathan Drake, is forced back into the world of thieves. With the stakes much more personal, Drake embarks on a globe-trotting journey in pursuit of a historical conspiracy behind a fabled pirate treasure. His greatest adventure will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves.”
