Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a 2016 action-adventure game created by Naughty Dog and released by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the fourth main game in the Uncharted series. The story takes place several years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Players control Nathan Drake, a former treasure hunter who is convinced to return from retirement by his brother, Samuel, who was believed to be dead. With his longtime partner, Victor Sullivan, Nathan searches for clues to find the lost treasure of Henry Avery. The game is played from a third-person view and includes platforming challenges. Players solve puzzles and use guns, hand-to-hand combat, and stealth to defeat enemies. In the online multiplayer mode, up to ten players can play together or compete against each other.
Development of Uncharted 4 began in 2011, shortly after the release of Uncharted 3. The project was led by creative director Amy Hennig and game director Justin Richmond. In 2014, development slowed when Hennig and Richmond left Naughty Dog. They were replaced by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. The team aimed to include open-world gameplay with larger levels to encourage exploration and combat. The relationship between Nathan and Elena was a key focus, and Naughty Dog worked to make the characters more relatable than in earlier games. A Thief's End was Naughty Dog’s first game designed specifically for the PlayStation 4. The team used the console’s power to create more detailed and interactive environments.
A Thief's End was released in May 2016 and received praise for its gameplay, story, emotional depth, visuals, and multiplayer features. Many reviewers considered it a fitting end to Nathan’s story. The game was named one of the greatest video games ever made and won awards, including Game of the Year from multiple publications and critics. It sold over 18 million copies, making it the best-selling Uncharted game and one of the top-selling PlayStation 4 games. A standalone expansion, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, was released in 2017. A remastered version was included in the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection for PlayStation 5 and Windows in 2022.
Gameplay
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is an action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective. Players move through different environments using platforming, which includes jumping, climbing, and exploring areas such as towns, buildings, and wilderness to progress in the story. They use guns, hand-to-hand combat, and stealth to fight enemies. Most of the game is played as Nathan Drake, a skilled treasure hunter who can jump, run, climb, swim, scale walls, use a grappling hook, and perform other physical actions. Some parts of the game involve driving vehicles.
In combat, players can use long-range weapons like rifles and shotguns, short-range weapons such as pistols and revolvers, and explosives like grenades and dynamite. The melee combat system was changed to remove quick time events. The grappling hook helps players jump over gaps, giving them an advantage during fights. Players can attack enemies directly or use stealth to avoid detection or sneak past them. While the game follows a set path, many areas offer different ways to explore, and maps are larger than in previous games.
The game includes an artificial intelligence system that makes enemies react to combat situations. Enemies respond to players' actions, work together, and use strategies. Companions are also controlled by artificial intelligence. The game introduces a dialogue tree, allowing players to choose how some conversations end, though these choices do not change the story. Players can unlock special visual effects, such as a zero-gravity mode, bullet time, and a cel-shaded art style, by earning points in the main game.
The online multiplayer mode allows up to ten players to compete in recreations of single-player settings. Players control characters from the series and try to defeat opponents. Five multiplayer game types are available: Command, where players capture sites to earn points; Ranked and Team Deathmatch, where players try to kill opponents; Plunder, a capture-the-flag mode where players retrieve an idol; and Trials, where players work together to defeat enemies. Treasure items can be found in all maps and used to buy weapons and equipment.
Multiplayer includes "Mysticals," which are special power-ups that help players. For example, "Wrath of El Dorado" harms nearby enemies, and "Cintamani Stone" heals players and teammates. Companions, called Sidekicks, can be summoned to help players. Each Sidekick has a unique role: Hunters slow enemies, Saviors provide medical supplies and ammunition, Snipers defend areas with a rifle, and Brutes attack enemies with a heavy machine gun. A cooperative survival mode, released in December 2016, lets three players fight waves of enemies that become harder over time.
Synopsis
The main character of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is Nathan "Nate" Drake (Nolan North), an experienced adventurer and explorer. After the events of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception in 2011, Nate retired from treasure hunting with his wife, Elena Fisher (Emily Rose), a journalist, to live a more normal life. He now works for a salvage company in New Orleans. The game introduces Samuel "Sam" Drake (Troy Baker), Nate's older brother, who was thought to be dead. Drawn back into adventure by his brother, Nate is helped by Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Richard McGonagle), a longtime friend, fellow adventurer, and mentor. Their mission to find the lost treasure of pirate Henry Avery puts them in conflict with Rafe Adler (Warren Kole), a wealthy treasure hunter; Nadine Ross (Laura Bailey), who leads a private military company called Shoreline; and Hector Alcazar (Robin Atkin Downes), a drug lord. The child versions of Nate and Sam are played by Britain Dalton and Chase Austin, respectively.
Several years before the first game, Nate and Sam searched for Avery's treasure. Alongside Rafe, the Drake brothers entered a Panamanian jail to find the former cell of Avery's first mate. Nate discovered a hollow St. Dismas idol. When the prison warden who helped them asked for a share of the treasure, Rafe killed him, causing a chaotic escape. Nate and Rafe escaped, but Sam was shot by guards and thought to be dead.
Fifteen years later, after the events of the previous game, Nate lives in New Orleans with Elena but misses the excitement of adventure. Sam, who survived the shooting and was later imprisoned, visits Nate. He explains that he escaped with Hector Alcazar, who threatened to kill him unless he found Avery's treasure. Nate agrees to help Sam, lying to Elena that he accepted a salvaging job. With Sully's help, the Drakes steal a copy of the St. Dismas idol from an illegal auction in Italy, leading to a conflict with Nadine and Rafe, who also seek Avery's treasure. A map inside the idol leads them to St. Dismas's cathedral in the Scottish Highlands, where they find a hidden temple and a map pointing to King's Bay in Madagascar.
In King's Bay, the Drakes and Sully learn that Avery, Thomas Tew, and ten other pirate captains combined their treasures. Nate finds a map to Libertalia, a legendary pirate utopia. When they return to their hotel, they find Elena. Upset by Nate's lies and Sam's sudden appearance, Elena leaves. Nate sends Sully to find her. Using the map, the Drakes travel to an island and discover Libertalia. They find evidence of a civil war: the founders stole the city's treasure and moved it to New Devon, a fortified town. Rafe confronts them, revealing that Sam lied—Alcazar had died six months earlier, and Rafe had released Sam from prison two years ago. Sam had betrayed Rafe to continue searching with Nate. Rafe tries to shoot Nate, but Sam shields him, accidentally pushing Nate off a cliff.
Elena rescues Nate, who shares his past: as teenagers, he and Sam learned their mother, Cassandra Morgan, a historian, had studied Libertalia. After breaking into the home of someone connected to their mother and nearly being caught by police, the brothers changed their surname to Drake to honor their mother's theory about Francis Drake's descendants. In New Devon, Nate and Elena discover that Libertalia's founders fought over the treasure, killing the colonists. A civil war broke out, and Avery and Tew poisoned the founders.
The group rescues Sam, but he chooses to continue searching for the treasure. Nate finds Avery's treasure-laden ship in a cavern. Nadine refuses to risk more traps, but Rafe forces her by bribing her men. On the ship, Sam triggers a trap, starting a fire and trapping him under rubble. Nate confronts Rafe and Nadine in the ship's hold, where the skeletons of Avery and Tew lie, having killed each other over the treasure. Nadine leaves Rafe to die with Nate and Sam. Rafe challenges Nate to a sword fight. Nate cuts a rope holding treasure, crushing Rafe and saving Sam. The pair return to Sully's plane, and the group escapes.
Sam and Sully begin a new job, while Nate and Elena return home. Elena reveals Sam gave her some gold. Realizing they both need adventure, she buys the salvage company Nate worked for, making him its owner, and plans to restart her old exploration show. Years later, Nate and Elena become successful salvagers and archaeologists. After their teenage daughter, Cassie (Kaitlyn Dever), finds relics from their adventures, Nate decides to tell her their story.
Development
In 2009, the game developer Naughty Dog divided its team into two groups to create Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and The Last of Us at the same time. After Uncharted 3 was released in November 2011, the team led by creative director Amy Hennig and game director Justin Richmond began planning Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Hennig and Richmond led the project for several years until they left the company in March 2014. Soon after, Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley took over as creative director and game director, respectively. They had previously worked on The Last of Us.
Early reports suggested Hennig was forced to leave by Druckmann and Straley, but Naughty Dog’s co-presidents, Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, denied this. After taking over, Druckmann and Straley changed much of Hennig’s original story plan. They decided Uncharted 4 would be the final game in the series, as they felt the characters had no more story to follow. However, they faced challenges due to shorter development time and major story changes.
During the final stages of Uncharted 4, employees worked long hours, sometimes up to 12 hours a day. This led to many employees leaving the company. According to a report by Kotaku’s Jason Schreier, 14 out of 20 non-lead designers who worked on the game left after its release, which was 70% of the team. Bruce Straley said he would never want to make Uncharted 4 again because of the difficulty. Straley also left the company shortly after the game’s release. Schreier noted that the development of The Last of Us Part II (2020) was slowed by the high number of employees who left.
The story of Uncharted 4 was written with the help of a dialogue designer, who added lines based on the player’s actions. Development began with a story outline describing major events, then writers and designers worked together to adjust scenes for gameplay. Players could choose to have optional conversations with non-player characters, a feature first used in The Last of Us. The game also used dialogue trees, first introduced in The Last of Us: Left Behind (2014), to help players connect with Nathan Drake. While the game allowed some player choices, the writers focused on specific emotional moments in the story.
Neil Druckmann and Josh Scherr co-wrote the story, with Scherr handling humor. Druckmann appreciated working with others, as he had written The Last of Us mostly alone. Tom Bissell and Ryan M. James helped with research and dialogue for enemies, companions, and multiplayer content. The writers aimed to tell a meaningful story with complex relationships, balancing lighthearted moments with serious themes. The game explored ideas like the cost of greed, the importance of family, and the sacrifices people make for loved ones. The subtitle A Thief’s End applied to characters like Rafe and pirates. The ending was planned early, and an epilogue was added to give a clear conclusion. Straley called the ending satisfying and fitting for the series.
To redesign Nathan Drake, the team looked to characters like Indiana Jones for inspiration. His equipment, such as a holster and pouch, was made subtle so it would not distract from the story. Bruce Straley worked with designers and artists to create environments and color schemes that contrasted with the story’s darker moments. Alexandria Neonakis designed Nathan’s orphanage and Cassie’s bedroom, which were placed at the start and end of the game. These rooms were designed to show the differences in their upbringings: Nathan’s room was simple and empty, while Cassie’s was warm and filled with personal items.
Nolan North, Emily Rose, and Richard McGonagle returned as Nathan, Elena, and Sully, respectively. Their performances were recorded using motion capture technology, with additional audio recorded in a studio. The relationship between Nathan and Elena was a key focus, as the team wanted to make Nathan more human. To strengthen their bond, the team removed vehicles from later parts of the game, forcing players to walk. The team wanted players to feel conflicted between Nathan’s relationship with Elena and his treasure hunt. They saw Nathan as a reflection of their own growth, as he became older and wiser. North noted that advancements in technology made Nathan look older, helping players connect with him. McGonagle compared Nathan to Sully in previous games, as both felt too old for treasure hunting.
Druckmann described Elena as a strong person who deeply loves Nathan, which influenced her decision to return to him. When she sees Nathan excited about his discovery of pirate captains, she realizes this is what was missing in their relationship. A scene where Nathan and Elena are trapped in a net was meant to show them working together and growing closer. Straley said Uncharted 4 allowed Nathan to become vulnerable and trust someone, a change from his earlier sarcastic attitude. Druckmann felt the story explored the balance between passion and settling down, a theme also seen in the developers’ own experiences.
The actors helped shape the characters, as Druckmann said they understood the characters better than he did. Throughout the series, Nolan North portrayed Nathan as an ordinary person, not an action hero. In Uncharted 4, the older ages of characters helped players relate to them. The team wanted to place characters in difficult situations to show how they grow. Allies helped during combat, which supported the story and character development. Straley wanted to explore relationships more deeply, inspired by The Last of Us.
Troy Baker met with Druckmann and Josh Scherr to discuss playing Sam, who is older than Nathan despite Baker being younger than Nolan North. Baker compared this to his friendship with actor Travis Willingham, who is younger but has more life experience, making Baker look up to him.
Release
Journalists guessed about the development of Uncharted 4 before it was officially announced, using job postings at Naughty Dog and information from stores. Sony officially confirmed the game’s existence on November 14, 2013, by releasing an official trailer. The full title was revealed on June 9, 2014, during Sony’s E3 2014 press conference. In September 2015, Naughty Dog said Uncharted 4 would be delayed from its planned release in late 2015 to March 18, 2016, to allow more time for improving the ending. The game was delayed twice more: first to April and then to May 10.
Amazon began sending copies of the game to customers on April 26, 2016. The next day, some copies were stolen during transport to stores in the United Kingdom. The developers were upset about people sharing details about the game online. Naughty Dog released single-player downloadable content after the success of The Last of Us: Left Behind. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a standalone expansion, was released in August 2017 for PlayStation 4, featuring characters Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross.
A report by Sony in May 2021 said the game would be released for Windows. In September 2021, a remastered version of the game for PlayStation 5 and Windows was announced as part of the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, which included The Lost Legacy. The game was released for PlayStation 5 on January 28, 2022, and for Windows, developed with Iron Galaxy, on October 19. People who owned the game on PlayStation 4 could upgrade to PlayStation 5 for $10 or €10. In some regions, buying or upgrading the game through the PlayStation Store gave a voucher for a ticket to the film Uncharted (2022). A trailer for the Legacy of Thieves Collection was released on January 21.
A Sony marketing manager said Uncharted 4 was "PlayStation's largest ever software investment." The first trailer was released on November 14, 2013, with the game’s announcement, and included the voice of Todd Stashwick. The trailer showed an ancient map of Africa, stopping at Madagascar, where Île Sainte-Marie was marked. A second trailer was shown at E3 2014 on June 10, highlighting the game’s concept, returning characters, and setting. A cinematic scene was shown at E3 2015 on June 16, depicting Nathan and Sully being attacked by enemies and chasing Sam. An extended trailer, later released on July 1, 2016, showed Nathan reaching Sam, the two fighting enemies on a motorcycle, and meeting Sully and Elena.
A trailer for the multiplayer mode was released on October 27, 2015, during Paris Games Week, followed by two more trailers on December 3 for the PlayStation Experience, where the game was playable. A cinematic introducing Nadine was shown at the Game Awards on December 4, and another clip of Nadine and Sully was shown at the PlayStation Experience on December 5. A cinematic showing Nathan and Sam’s reunion was also shown at the PlayStation Experience, introducing the game’s branching dialogue choices. A trailer titled "Man Behind the Treasure" was shown before some screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and published online on December 21, featuring a piano version of the Pixies’ song "Where Is My Mind?" A behind-the-scenes video, also shown before some Star Wars screenings, was published online.
A story trailer, which Druckmann called "the best trailer in Naughty Dog’s history," was released on February 24, 2016. Ubisoft’s Aymar Azaïzia noticed the trailer included artwork from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013); Naughty Dog replaced the artwork and apologized to Ubisoft. A trailer titled "Heads or Tails," showing Nathan thinking about his choices, was released on March 25 and shown before some screenings of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 10 Cloverfield Lane (both 2016). A trailer for the multiplayer mode Plunder was released on April 22 and was playable at PAX East from April 22–24. The final pre-launch trailer was released on April 25, 2016.
A beta for the multiplayer mode was included with all copies of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and was available from December 4–13, 2015. An open beta was later available from March 4–7, 2016, to all users. To encourage pre-orders, Naughty Dog worked with stores to offer special editions: the "Special Edition" included a SteelBook case, a hardcover art book, and unlock codes for multiplayer content; the "Libertalia Collector’s Edition" also included a statue of Nathan Drake. The cover art was revealed on June 3, 2015. Sony released a 500 GB PlayStation 4 console that included a copy of the game and a set of Uncharted 4-branded DualShock 4 controllers. A pair of Uncharted 4-themed PlayStation headphones was also released.
Reception
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End received "universal acclaim" according to Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews. It is the joint sixth-highest rated PlayStation 4 game on Metacritic. IGN’s Lucy O'Brien wrote that the game is "a remarkable achievement in blockbuster storytelling and graphical beauty." GameSpot’s Mike Mahardy similarly called it a "breathtaking marvel of a game." GamesTM described it as "a masterful piece of storytelling," and Electronic Gaming Monthly’s Nick Plessas declared it "a true work of art."
Giant Bomb’s Dan Ryckert said the graphics were the best on any console, praising the character details and open environments. Destructoid’s Steven Hansen described the art direction as "stunning," and Game Informer’s Andrew Reiner called the game "a work of art." GamesRadar’s Leon Hurley praised the minute graphical details that made the characters feel more alive. GameSpot’s Mahardy noted the cinematography, both in gameplay and during cutscenes, "amplifies the wonder of this gorgeous world." The Escapist’s Liz Finnegan described the game as "painfully beautiful," and Sam Loveridge of Digital Spy praised Naughty Dog’s ability to create "cleverly crafted stunning vistas."
Polygon’s Griffin McElroy found the narrative more nuanced than its predecessors. Destructoid’s Hansen praised the writers for bringing the narrative to a cohesive conclusion, and Game Informer’s Reiner appreciated them for turning Avery’s secrets into "tantalizing story material." Conversely, Ars Technica’s Kyle Orland found the characters’ enthusiasm uninteresting. GameSpot’s Mahardy considered the set pieces the best in the series and among the best in video gaming. The Escapist’s Finnegan felt the "action never feels unnaturally halted in order to relay relevant pieces of the story." EGM’s Plessas found enjoyment in the subtler interactions more than the overall narrative, and The A.V. Club’s Zack Handlen praised the dramatic moments. VideoGamer.com’s Steven Burns felt the story had too much padding that slowed it down but considered it the series’s best.
The characters and relationships received particular praise. Destructoid’s Hansen felt the character relationships were not overshadowed by the action, particularly praising Emily Rose’s performance as Elena for "perfectly and subtly conveying the intricacies of her relationship." Polygon’s McElroy felt the chemistry between the two characters was at its best in Uncharted 4. Giant Bomb’s Ryckert echoed this sentiment, adding that the conversations between Nathan and Sam Drake felt "more natural than hammy." GameSpot’s Mahardy wrote that the additional details revealed about Nathan are "painfully human," helping to bring the characters to life. GamesRadar’s Hurley praised the improved gameplay but found some nonlinear moments, such as optional interactions and dialogue, "a little overcooked" in contrast to previous entries. The Guardian’s Keith Stuart found the linearity immersion-breaking, particularly criticizing the repetition in traversal. USgamer’s Mike Williams felt the open driving level "robs the game of its pacing" despite granting the feeling of a larger scale.
GameSpot’s Mahardy thought the action "flows seamlessly alongside its narrative," praising the addition of stealth combat and its similarity to The Last of Us. Giant Bomb’s Ryckert felt the player’s companions were more fleshed-out than in previous entries. The Telegraph’s Tom Hoggins described the firearm gameplay as "punchy and pleasing," appreciating the fast-paced combat. Destructoid’s Hansen described the puzzles as "fluid and dynamic," particularly lauding the addition of the grappling hook. Game Informer’s Reiner echoed the latter sentiment, noting the grappling hook enhanced exploration and combat, but felt the set pieces delivered less exciting moments than in previous games.
Game Informer’s Reiner considered the environments "so vast that they take on the illusion of open worlds," and The Telegraph’s Hoggins felt they make the player feel like "more of an adventurer." IGN’s O'Brien found the addition of choices in the game refreshing. Digital Spy’s Loveridge appreciated the additional freedom granted by new combat options, allowing the player to map their tactics in advance. GamesRadar’s Hurley praised the improved gameplay but found some nonlinear moments, such as optional interactions and dialogue, "a little overcooked" in contrast to previous entries. The Guardian’s Keith Stuart found the linearity immersion-breaking, particularly criticizing the repetition in traversal. USgamer’s Mike Williams felt the open driving level "robs the game of its pacing" despite granting the feeling of a larger scale.
Critics shared generally positive reviews for Uncharted 4’s multiplayer component but felt the single-player mode took precedence. O'Brien of IGN wrote that the multiplayer game types "embody the series’ most enjoyable qualities," while Hurley of GamesRadar felt it benefited from the new mechanics introduced in the single-player story. Polygon’s McElroy considered the multiplayer mode "extremely easy to pick up on," and Loveridge of Digital Spy found the multiplayer approachable and enjoyable. Game Informer’s Reiner described the multiplayer combat as "fevered" and exciting, but encountered issues with loading matches. Giant Bomb’s Ryckert considered the multiplayer "basic," noting players are unlikely to return for long.
Following its previews at E3, Uncharted 4 was nominated for numerous awards, including Best PlayStation Game from several gaming publications. After its release, the game garnered awards and nominations in a variety of categories with particular praise for its gameplay mechanics, narrative, emotional depth, visual design, and multiplayer. At the Game Awards 2016, Uncharted 4 was nominated for eight awards, winning two: Best Narrative and Best Performance for North. The game received ten nominations at the 20th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and won four, including Adventure Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story.
It was nominated for four awards at the 6th Annual New York Video Game Awards and four at the 17th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards. The game won Outstanding Character Animation in a Video Game at the 44th Annie Awards, Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project at the 15th Visual Effects Society Awards, and Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing at the 67th Writers Guild of America Awards. At the 2017 SXSW Gaming Awards, the game won five awards out of eight nominations, including Video Game of the Year, Excellence in Narrative, and Most Memorable Character. The game received eight nominations at the 13th British Academy Games Awards, ultimately winning Best Game.
Sales
Within seven days of its release, Uncharted 4 sold more than 2.7 million copies. This made it the fastest-selling first-party PlayStation 4 game. The game earned over $56 million in digital sales within three weeks. By December 2016, it had sold 8.7 million copies, making it one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games. By May 2019, sales reached over 15 million copies. In the United States, it was the best-selling retail game in May 2016. In the United Kingdom, the game was the most popular, achieving the strongest debut in the series with a 66% increase in first-week sales compared to Uncharted 3. In Japan, the game was the most popular in its first week, with over 128,000 units sold. It remained the top-selling game the following week, with an additional 21,000 units sold. Within five years, Uncharted 4 reached 37 million players. Of these, 13.3 million played multiplayer, and 9.5 million used features that help with different needs. According to information shared in 2023, the game had sold 18.616 million copies by February 2022.
In other media
The 2022 film Uncharted was inspired by A Thief's End. The game was part of a scientific study published in Physiology & Behavior in 2024. In the study, 54 male participants were randomly assigned to play either a violent or non-violent section of the game. The results showed that participants who played the violent sections experienced lower stress levels.