Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has been delayed until Spring 2016, but it's not that much of a surprise. Every twelve months we enter a New Year expecting the world, but projects get cancelled, titles get delayed, and, well, we end up looking back with disappointment. That's life, though, and when Amy Hennig infamously departed Naughty Dog last year, we probably should have expected a slightly more shaky production cycle for Nathan Drake's forthcoming affair.
Of course, this is not just a blow for fans of the franchise, but also for Sony's roster of first-party releases. After a disappointing 2014 – in which inFAMOUS: Second Son was the best of the platform holder's internal projects – this year was looking like a vast improvement. The Order: 1886 was supposed to kick things off in style, but it ultimately fell short. However, that didn't matter so much, as Bloodborne, Until Dawn, and Uncharted 4 were still on the way. Scratch the latter off the list.
It's a blow, and it's inevitably going to result in question marks hanging over the firm's network of Worldwide Studios, but let's not also forget that broken games were the biggest story last year. Assassin's Creed Unity, DriveClub, and copious others all could have benefitted from a delay last Christmas, but released anyway. Naughty Dog isn't exactly known for rushed titles, and we suspect that it'd like to keep its record intact.
Having said that, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception was famously pushed out in time for Christmas 2011, and it was arguably the least polished of the Californian company's back catalogue. It shipped with a slew of bugs – from aiming all the way down to motion blur – and also lacked the little extras that the studio usually lovingly crams into its releases. After that fiasco, it said that it would never repeat the same mistake, and so it ended up delaying The Last of Us in 2013. We know how that ended.
Naughty Dog will know what's best for its game, and the additional months will make a difference
The reality is that, while this looks bad now, it will only end up benefitting the final product. Naughty Dog will know what's best for its game, and we believe it when it states that the additional months will make a difference. Moreover, while this will leave a hole in the PS4's lineup, we can't see Sony seeing out the entire Christmas period with nothing to take its place. It'll have plans to make up for this, we're sure – and there'll still be Uncharted 4 to look forward to in the New Year.
In fact, if you look at the Japanese giant's lineups over the past few years anyway, you definitely get the sense that it's happy to avoid the usual holiday blockbusters. The likes of God of War III, inFAMOUS: Second Son, and The Last of Us all launched outside of Christmas, and still sold plenty of copies; there's an appetite for great games all year round, so why cram everything into one cramped window? Uncharted 4 could definitely hold its own against Call of Duty, but it doesn't need to.
And that's why we don't think that today's news is the end of the world. It's disappointing, for sure, but it's going to result in a better product, and we have confidence that Naughty Dog will eventually deliver. Does the PS4's 2015 lineup look worse without one of the biggest brands in gaming? Of course it does. But it's not like your pricey platform's going to be devoid of great games – Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's a lock for September for starters.
Has the delay of Uncharted 4 hit you hard, or do you think that Naughty Dog should take its time? Will Sony have another exclusive to take its place, or is the PS4 consigned to another barren Christmas? Talk things through in the comments section below.
Comments 62
Spot on I reckon.
I don't think it's a big deal, by now i'm used to delays. I just hope Witcher 3, Persona 5, and Batman come without any more delays
Considering that this game is so far my only reason to buy a PS4 over an X1, it is not good news. But I know that delays end up helping the product (except DriveClub) and I don't really plan to buy a new console this year, unless I have a good reason.
Thank you Sony and Naughty Dog for announcing the delay now. Far more responsible than the last minute delay crap that has been happening recently.
However I wouldn't be surprised if this has been pushed back because of an Uncharted Trilogy remaster.
Responsible thing to do for sure.
Yet, considering the PS4 is my first Sony home console, and I choose this platform over the XB1 due to the wealth of exclusives, it has been a bit of a disapointment so far.
If it needs more time, then I'm completely fine with it. Between my PS3 backlog, all the games I have on PS4 plus all the games coming out this year I'm interested in, my 3DS and Wii U, I have almost too much to play as it is.
Annoying but I want a good Uncharted rather than a rushed one, though at this point I expected at least 4-5 good exclusives which the system lacks severally in.
Persona 5 is all I need this year. That is all I have to say on the matter
It kinda feels like the PS2 era when although the Playstation was by far and away the most succesful console, I would argue that Microsoft and Nintendo had the better first and second party exclusives.
Couldn't care less personally, there are a few titles out that I've got to catch up on and plenty coming for the remainder of the year (MGS5!!!), really looking forward to Uncharted 4 but what's a few more months when you're in it for the long haul.
Just gotta try not to die before it comes out or the jokes on me.
@sub12 God of War, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper... Not sure I agree!
Don't really care, finish it properly and make a good game. Wasn't exactly excited for this anyway.
So this delay is to make the game prettier. The next delay (of a day) will be to add some gameplay in?
Relax. It's a joke. More companies should aim to have a complete game out for launch. Sad that someone doing this is now a plus when it should be the norm.
@get2sammyb Take Ico and Shadow Of the Colossus out and it's awful in comparison to what Nintendo offered that generation. Even the worst 3D Mario is better than all the Ratchets and the latter two Sly games. I'll give you the first Sly though as that was great. Better than Microsoft, but all they had was Halo and... erm... nothing.
Yeah I prefer a polished game There is enough coming this year anyway...I hardly have time to finish my backlog let alone play more new games.
They better give us Uncharted Trilogy Remastered on PS4 for a low price to make up for it Seriously...I want to play those games before I tackle Uncharted 4.
@get2sammyb
I guess I'm just being a negative Nathienel, but Sony could remedy this right now by confirming that an Uncharted: Remastered Collection is on the way for 2015.
@get2sammyb Hmm I think PS2 beats Xbox but lose to GCn, Nintendo were just so good.
Nintendo always makes the best software IMO, no question, they also have a bad habit of making poor decisions when it comes to hardware and formats.
I have a very strange feeling that Naughty Dog is going to surprise all of us with the Uncharted Trilogy HD. Both standard and a special edition.
@sub12 In your opinion indeed. To some like me Nintendo gsmes are rehashed trash. Playstation has always been the only one that offered a diverse lineup of everything. This gen they're messing up badly though so far.
Sony really isn't gonna have a big exclusive for the holidays for the 3rd straight year huh ?
Uncharted delayed!? Playstation 4 being sold.
Agree with everything said here I want a finished product don't want them to half ass it I'm not mad since... well i don't have a ps4 yet... i also wouldn't be surprised if they announced an Uncharted Remastered Collection
We can sugarcoat it all we want but the exclusive lineup sucks, and a seond Uncharted collection doesn't change that. If these other studios hadn't failed it would be less of a blow. Will be interesting to see if this finally leads to fewer sales or if Sony drops the price this fall.
I guess Ratchet & Clank is the big game for the fall now. It wouldn't make up for the loss of Uncharted 4 but if Sony brought over games like Yakuza Zero and God Eater 2, that would at least improve the holiday lineup. They're not blockbuster exclusives but from what I've seen they look like quality games that help bring balance to a console's library. Probably wouldn't sell huge but that diversity is invaluable. N64 had more 'classics' than the PSone, imo, but you were waiting months upon months for the great games to arrive. PSone always had something good, and more often than not it was something exclusive to the platform. So, this situation isn't unfixable, I just hope Sony's solution isn't the lazy 'here is your Uncharted 'Definitive' Collection.'
@MadchesterManc Are you serious?!
While I am upset, maybe the delay is because they plan on releasing an Uncharted Trilogy collection for Fall 2015?
@AeroZeppelin maybe...who knows?
@get2sammyb you forgot jak and daxter, and most of the crash games
Well, Bloodborne, Ratchet & Clank, and Tearaway: Unfolded should be joys to play without a doubt.
Until Dawn is just about as unappealing as possible though, unless QTE horror is your thing (zzzzzz).
For everyone who thinks Persona 5 is actually coming West this year, don't get your hopes up! Localisation will certainly take till 2016.
But on the matter of Uncharted, there's no discussion that the game itself will benefit from the delay, but let's talk business now. Sony will have yet another fall without a decent game to rely on. MS is bringing the big guns again with Forza, Halo, Tomb Raider and possibly Scalebound and Qauntum break, where Sony has until Dawn and Tearaway. I think this time Sony will lose the holiday season with a way bigger margin and I don't even feel sorry for them. Till now it's been nothing but cheap promises, but they just simply fail to deliver. The only thing they did better than MS is the initial reveal, which is 2,5 years ago by the time people are doing their Christmas shopping.
I want this game bad but saying that this delay doesn't effect me at all I said before i bet this game comes out in 2016. Oh well loads more to buy & play in the meantime
@Boerewors
This is pretty much spot on, although I think Quantum Break will be delayed.
Still, MS had the better 2014 holiday lineup, and it looks like they will win again........Forza, Tomb Raider, and Halo 5 is a pretty stellar lineup.
Alas, despite my bitching, I think Sony will have a suprise for a E3 (ala LBP 3), unless they feel they need to get the word out early......but yeah, a Remastered Uncharted Collection is a must.
Maybe a PS4 version of Golden Abyss as well, I'm probably being a bit greedy though.
@Boerewors
I'm certainly with you on there possibly being no benefit to the delay. The pathetic rallying cry that Nintendo fans used to use it quickly becoming one around PlayStation websites as well. The thing is, the 11-month delay did not keep DriveClub from being a broken mess on launch and it took several months until that game was fixed and worth a damn. The delay from last fall to this past February didn't do anything for The Order either. The idea that delays automatically equal great games is a myth. This move is simply so Sony and Naughty Dog can push another remaster down everybody's throat. That's what ND has become this gen, a studio of staff changes, remasters and excuses. "It was tough to get TLoU Remastered running at 60 fps." "Uncharted 4 is much more ambitious than we thought." It's been four years since the last Uncharted, no excuse for 4 not to be out at the very latest, this fall. I'm going to be especially p*ssed if it turns out a team inside Naughty Dog was working on the Uncharted Remastered Collection because that's resources that could've been put to use making sure Uncharted 4 got out sooner.
Anyway, it is what it is. If Sony doesn't bring over quality exclusives like Yakuza Zero or God Eater 2 (like I stated in my last post, not huge blockbusters but you can make up for lack of 1 great game, with several very good ones), I hope MS keeps its games on track, I hope Zelda Wii U stays on track and I hope Sony pays for it with a serious a$$ kicking this holiday because that's the only thing that is going to get the company off its rearend so it starts putting out good exclusives. I know some people love to pull the 'exclusives don't matter' card around here. But they do. They're not the end all be all like maybe some make them out to be. But they do matter. PS3 would've been a complete disaster without good first party content and wouldn't have had a prayer of catching up with the 360.
@sub12
Thing is: they cán delay it if they like. Heck, they could even delay Halo and get away it, which I can totally see happening btw. Sony needs to step it up, I'm losing more faith in them every week.
@Gamer83
It feels like Sony is dropping the ball on everything atm. They keep on announcing new services and hardware, but never give anything proper support. When they wouldve support the Vita like they promised they would, it would have been right up there with the 3ds. They launch a mobile gaming platform and than abondon it, they launch a TV service the same time they drop their music service and offer streaming of games before their network is supported properly... And don't even get me started on the bottomless VR well they're throwing their money in at this moment. Sony just needs to stop this nonsense and first cater to the millions of people who had faith in them an or bought a PS4, Vita or even the PS TV if you're an unlucky fool like myself. Where are the 1st party games? Where are the firmware updates? It's been almost 2 years since all the promises you made, please deliver on them before you start making others.
Let's be easy on them, sure, they can take every developer away from the Vita minus a free to play Fat Princess game, and underwhelm on the PS4,......but that's ok, because we need all of those Virtual Reality 60 dollar tech demo's in time for 2016.
@Boerewors
Imo, it's a classic case of a company spreading itself across too many different things, which is actually what put Sony as a whole in the financial situation it's in now.
We'll see how morpheus plays out, but I agree, focus on the 20+ million first. As far as Vita, I've always believed it was a horrendous idea for Sony to get into the handheld market to begin with. Nintendo is the only one that ever pulled it off correctly. I can only imagine what it was like to be in charge of the PlayStation brand during the height of its dominance in the late 90s to mid-00s. It was easy to look at successes like PS1 and 2 had and naturally start thinking about spreading to other sectors. But sometimes, just being happy with phenomenal success in one area is the way to go. I'm not sure how the PS3's library would've turned out had PSP and Vita not existed. Not sure what would be happening with PS4 either, but if I had to guess, since all Sony's studios would be focused strictly on the home market, things would be better. What disappoints me is in 2007 alone, even with focus on other areas, PS3 had a better lineup of exclusives than PS4 will have had in 2 full years on the market now. Assuming Bloodborne delivers, that puts it there with inFamous: Second Son. Two great games. For PS3, 2007 had Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Uncharted 1. There was also from launch the excellent Resistance 1. From the PS4's launch there's... Knack and Killzone.
Granted that i have a PC much more powerful than the PS4 (and no, it didnt cost me $10000000 dollars like everyone thinks) i do think its a great console and the game has been decent
But in terms of exclusives, this blows and the PS4 has been awful imo. At this point we had MGS4 on the PS3.
I still dont get how the virtual reality is going to fare on a console that has problems rendering 1 SCREEN at 60fps/900p
Virtual Reality is either going to be the biggest shift we have seen since the introduction of 3D polygonal graphics,.....
Or its going to be the new wiimote/move/kinect gimmick of this generation.
I'm still somewhat pesimistic about it, just because it arguably affords a damaging level of escapism......comes off as anti-social.
What game HASN'T been delayed on PS4... I'd consider it more newsworthy if it actually launched on time tbh...
@Gamer83 Bandai Namco recently filed a trademark for Rage Burst in the EU, so a localisation of that could be on the cards. I'm guessing Sega are gonna wait on 5 & see how well that does before announcing anything for Zero. Zero has more of a chance than Ishin of being localised at least
@JaxonH
The delay game will be the best PS4 exclusive of this generation.
@Gamer83
I'm not questioning the game's quality, I'm just saying this is beyond being a normal thing now.
@JaxonH
Yeah, I'm just trying to make light of the situation to keep myself from getting too furious with Sony over the pathetic lack of exclusives.
@MadchesterManc
That seems like semi-good news about the trademark. I'd prefer some confirmation that it's coming though.
@Gamer83
If it's any consolation, the worthwhile exclusives may be thin but there's a decent stack of multiplats worth playing. Er, you own an Xbox One also don't you... Ya you're like me- one console for multiplats and exclusives, while the other is relegated to just exclusives (plus Wii U which has always been about just exclusives).
I haven't been playing PS4 much lately, or my Xbox One, until today cause Ori and the Blind Forest just dropped. And Bloodborne absolutely doesn't interest me so really, I'm kinda waiting for Witcher 3 and Arkham Knight. I've already accepted that PS4 won't really be a heavy hitter exclusive-wise, but at least it'll get Uncharted 4 at some point, and Street Fighter V. But the multiplats are good so...
I have a solution to solve all your problems and melt your worries- you need a new3DS XL and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and come hunting online with me
@JaxonH
Yeah, the multiplats are good and I'm definitely not one of those guys who doesn't count those. Difference is, unlike many people here I don't discount the importance of exclusives either. And it's funny, last gen the pro-PlayStation crowd was singing the praises of the PS3 exclusives and how the console wouldn't have made the comeback it did without them. Which is true. And many, myself included, expected that to continue into this gen. We're not seeing that and now all the sudden it's 'exclusives don't matter' or other nonsense like 'it takes time.' When both the PS2 and 3 hit with big exclusives right away. After this year it will be over 24 months with two great exclusives assuming Bloodborne delivers for the crowd that wants it (I don't care for From Software's games but respect the studio). That is pathetic, plain and simple and should not be sugar coated.
Doesn't mean I can't enjoy a remaster of a game I missed, like DmC or a big time multiplat such as Batman or MGS V which I guess are now my two most-anticipated games for this year. I'm just sick of hearing how exclusives lack in importance. Where was that argument in 2011?
I've heard a lot about game development and how terrible deadlines are, how hard and fast they have to work to make a viable product in such a short amount of time. I'm always happy to hear about delays, because it means more time for the developers to make a better game.
@sub12 It comes off as anti social until you get on an online meetup room or MMO or something similar and meet virtual face to face with a friend who lives hundred of miles away. I mean sure it still seems a bit anti social, but It's truely a remarkable experience to meetup with long distance friends in this way, and you can do whatever you want whenever you want for cheaper than a bunch of plane tickets. With that being said we will see if Sony's VR even has this type of game or experience. I know on PC there will be as there are already quite a few like online VR movie theaters, Team Fortress 2, virtual coffe shops (no actual coffee though) and such.
@Gamer83 Whoa what ? PS3 hit with big exclusives right away ? Lol I think you need to go back in time. The first few years were terrible for PS3.
Had Resistance, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction and Uncharted 1 all within the first year. That's superior to inFamous: Second Son and, assuming it delivers, Bloodborne. 2008 was a light year, although it did provide MGS IV, LBP 1 and Resistance 2. And PS2 was among the best for its first two years on the market. Bottomline is Sony has started things off better before and there's no reason it shouldn't be happening with PS4. The way gamers have responded to it, the reward shouldn't be 'sorry, here's another delay but we'll give you a re-release of old games while you wait.' It's pathetic. The saving grace this time is MS isn't exactly knocing it out of the park, although its fall lineup for this year is vastly, vastly superior to the nothing Sony seems to have on offer. Now as I've said, I don't need that big blockbuster, and there are games of more a 'B' level from third parties in Japan that are PS exclusive that if brought over here would at least make the holiday season look decent. Instead, Sony and Naughty Dog are going to sell us another remaster, which the cynical side of me says is the real reason behind this delay, not anything else.
@Gamer83 - If I may...
IMO big difference between the "exclusives matter" arguement for PS3 and PS4 is the PS3 was a year late to the party and a lot of people thought the $500 and $600 price tags at launch were insane. So while 360 and Wii blew past it in sales Sony and its fans needed that "exclusives" rallying cry to get some momemtum. And really, what else were they going to market, Move and Wonderbook? Now its the PS4s turn and the price is a little more on par w/ the other 2 consoles and it sales are double each of its competiton, so no, "exclusives" don't matter. And thats why people can sound like such hupocrites in changing their position on the matter of exclusives but the respective sales of the PS3 ans PS4 systems, both in relation to each other and their competiton, means the exclusive arguement is legitimately different between hardware generations.
That, and if exclusives mattered, Wii U would be kicking everybodys butt.
Of course that only holds true for where we stand right now, if Sony doesnt get something lined up for the holiday - and it could happen, heck E3 is still 3 months away - then X1 or Wii U could start outselling it b/c exvlusives could matter then.
I'd rather have a delayed game that's actually finished as opposed to an unfinished game that just had to ship by its holiday release date. Maybe somebody should share this philosophy with Ubisoft...
@rjejr
Fair points. And I'll even go as far as saying that yes, there's numerous things that could happen. Maybe instead of Sony lining up another exclusive, MS decides to delay one or maybe even two of its three games that we know of. That also changes everything. But I do think in North America at least Sony is playing a dangerous game. I'm just going with what we know right now and what we know is PS4 has no exclusives worth a damn for the Holidays. MS on the other hand will be getting the big games like MGS V in addition to (as of today) having its own big 3 in Halo, Tomb Raider and Forza. Also have to factor in potential price cuts. Sony could do one, but MS is in a financial position where it could easily match any move Sony makes. So, my opinion, and I'm sticking to it, is Sony needs to do something. The NA market singlehandedly kept Xbox 360 ahead for about 6 or 7 years, Sony has got off to a good start here but its in danger of blowing all that momentum. End of the day, I'm fortunate to have both consoles so I don't really lose out on anything but I'd like to see Sony stay in front because for all the faults that company has I'm not sure gaming is in a better place if MS is the leader.
I think 2016 will be the the year I get a PS4. I'll be ready for this and Street Fighter 5.
@get2sammyb Gamecube, Super monkey ball, Mario sunshine, Zelda the wind waker, xbox, halo, jet set radio future, star wars knights of the old republic. I think that selection beats yours hands down. But you never included final fantasy 10, gt4 or disgaea. In which case ps2 all the way!!!
I played Uncharted 3 after various patches fixed everything. I thought it was far and away the best of the 3 games.
Its always a disappointment to hear a game you eagerly await be 'delayed', even if you understand the reason and of course know the final product will be all the better for it. Its always a mixed feeling!
What I can't understand though is why developers/publishers comment on expected release dates so far in advance. To me they are more to blame for the disappointment. Had they not said that Uncharted 4 was releasing in 2015, no one would be disappointed by this 'delay' as no one would know it has been.They could (for example) have just said 'we will bring you news of when its due for release as soon as we know for definite'. I know deadlines are important but as games are becoming more technical, there are more unforeseen problems that can arise. I doubt Naughty Dog are slacking off of production. They will still have internal deadlines that they are working towards but the outside world doesn't need to know.
2 games I really wanted in 2014, the Witcher 3 and Batman: Arkham Knight both got delayed from Oct - they even had a date assigned. It hasn't stopped me wanting them but they could have avoided disappointment by not setting a date until it is 95% certain (5% allowing for major unforeseen issues). I would rather be told a release date a month before and not be delayed. Ideally they should tell us a date as and when they are 95%+ sure of making that date. I am sure that they could give more than a month notice as games are often in the very final stages months before.
I really enjoyed Uncharted 3, I was not one that had an issue with the new aiming either - I know they added a patch allowing players to go back to an older style. I also maintain it was the best looking console game of that generation. I am an owner of both PS and Xbox consoles and Uncharted is the main reason why I would buy a PS - I am not saying there aren't other reasons btw! Its by far my favourite 'exclusive' franchise on any system.
I dont mind a delay at all, everything will be alright. Just that Sony wont have many AAA exclusives between Bloodborne and UC4.
They could always announce a few at E3, but revealing a game in June and releasing it within the same year could mean there wont be much word of mouth to justify good sales. Oh yeah, the games also have to be good and nothing like The Order.
I was really looking forward to playing it this year but I don't mind waiting as long as it ends up being worth it.
@themcnoisy
Doesn't count! Has to be published by Sony!
I had an Xbox (and for a short time, the GameCube) during most of the 6th gen, and I never found myself envious or missing out on the PS2 experince.
It was only with the PS3 that I started taking real note,.....but at that, one can argue that it was only in the 7th gen that Sony started to care for and market it's own IP's with the long term in mind.
@sub12 the GameCube was a little beast - I forgot f-zero and virtua striker 4. Also the controller was great.
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