Don’t worry, Naughty Dog isn’t going to make Uncharted 4 ‘too dark’

Also, the studio is not working on Last of Us 2 right now

In a video interview with Game Informer, Uncharted 4 creative director Neil Druckmann and game director Bruce Straley discussed the direction of A Thief’s End and the inherent challenges to following up the critically acclaimed The Last of Us.

The pair also touched on whether they’d be comfortable handing off a hypothetical The Last of Us 2 to a new creative team, with both agreeing they would be uncomfortable with the idea. However, a Last of Us sequel and the studio’s new ideas are on hold until development on Uncharted 4 comes to an end. “We’re 110% in Uncharted 4 territory now, blinders on, make this awesome,” said Straley.

When asked if there were any misconceptions or concerns they would like to clear up, Straley reassured fans that Uncharted 4 would be an Uncharted game through and through. “We’re not gonna make it too dark, everybody calm down, take a breath.” The game would have a deeper focus on the humanity of Nathan Drake, but the series’ trademark pulpy tone would remain intact.

They also discussed what making a new Uncharted game means for a post-Last of Us Naughty Dog. Druckmann in particular commented on the open nature of the PSX demo and how it would inform Uncharted 4 as a whole. “That’s that wider, more sandbox feel that now we’re drawn to after having worked on something like The Last of Us,” said Druckmann.

Stealth will also play a part in A Thief’s End, according to Straley. “In Uncharted 2, well, action stealth was as far as we got with stealth. So now, how do we make it accessible and fast-paced and all this, and still give you that ability to drop into stealth, and to play with the AI… […] Like, just stealth in and of itself, is expanded from Uncharted 2 through 3 and The Last of Us to now.”

The duo also discussed the challenge inherent in moving from a grounded, somber game like The Last of Us to a “pulpy spectacle” like Uncharted. “Now we want to go like ‘let’s blow some shit up!’ and the team’s like ‘woah, woah, woah,'” said Straley, discussing the “new relationship” he and Druckmann have with Naughty Dog.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is currently set to release sometime this year.

Comparing Uncharted 4’s Story And Gameplay To The Last Of Us [Game Informer]