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'Uncharted,' 'Firewatch' dominate The Game Awards nominations
The Game Awards show has made it a point to recognize more than just the usual blockbuster hits, and it looks like that will remain true when the 2016 ceremony takes place on December 1st. Geoff Keighley's outfit has unveiled its nominees for this year, and there's a healthy mix of triple-A titles and indies. It won't shock you to hear that big names like Battlefield 1, Doom, Overwatch, Titanfall 2 and Uncharted 4 are up for multiple awards, of course. However, smaller projects like Inside (up for game of the year), Hyper Light Drifter and Firewatch make up a large chunk of the selections.
'Crash Bandicoot' is back
Sony knows that what the people want: nostalgia. Last year we got Shenmue and Final Fantasy VII. This year, we've got three Crash Bandicoot remasters for PlayStation 4. That means the original game, its sequel and the third game, Warped, are all being given the HD treatment. Words cannot describe how excited people are at Sony's event right now. Sure, it's not quite the all-new Crash Bandicoot we were all hoping for after the game made an appearance in Uncharted 4, but it's bound to sell like crazy anyway. Follow all the news from E3 2016 here.
Traveling the world in Uncharted 4's ridiculous photo mode
Aside from minor tweaks for brightness and contrast, everything in this National Geographic-inspired gallery was captured entirely within the photo mode of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. And while the images don't contain any story spoilers from the first 11 chapters of the game, if you're looking to go in completely blind, you should avert your eyes. Amazing visuals are part of the Uncharted series' DNA, and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is no exception. The difference here is that the previous three installments didn't feature a photo mode when they debuted on PlayStation 3. And to be clear, this isn't even the first PS4 game with a photo mode -- that would be Infamous: Second Son -- but this is the first one that I want to keep playing. That's because taking screenshots here is as fun as working through the narrative itself.
'Uncharted 4' multiplayer maps and modes will be free forever
For big studio games, downloadable content is often announced before the title even launches to keep the hype going. Naughty Dog's long-awaited Uncharted 4: A Thief's End launches on May 10th, but instead of charging fees for each content expansion, the studio will release all maps and gameplay modes for free.
Sony says numerous 'Uncharted 4' copies were stolen
Sony's President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida has just announced that "a number of copies" of the upcoming game Uncharted 4: A Thief's End have been stolen in transit. A few copies have surfaced ahead of the game's official release on May 10th -- British site Videogamer reported yesterday that discs were appearing at second-hand stores in the country. Not acknowledging the irony, Yoshida says "Sony is continuing to to work with the police to resolve the matter, which is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation." He urges gamers to be vigilant for potential spoilers resulting from the theft, and says it will be "worth the wait" till May 10th.
'The Last of Us' and 'Uncharted' movies could be in trouble
The Last of Us and the Uncharted series are known for their cinematic feel and spectacular set pieces, so it's not surprising that Hollywood wants to adapt them for the big screen. If you're sold on the idea of a live-action search for El Dorado, or a painstaking journey across a Clicker-infested America, we've got some bad news however. In an interview with IGN, Neil Druckmann, creative director at Naughty Dog, hinted that both projects are in trouble. Regarding a movie version of The Last of Us, he said:
'Uncharted 4' shows what its devs learned from 'The Last of Us'
Nathan Drake thought he was out of the treasure hunting business, but the return of his long-lost brother pulls him back in. That's the basic setup for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, developer Naughty Dog's final entry in its long-running adventure franchise. After several delays, the game is finally hitting shelves on May 10th. Family isn't a new thing for Uncharted -- we've spent the last few games with Drake's self-made family of close friends. But that dynamic is about to change in a big way.
'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' gets a beautiful story trailer
With Uncharted 4: A Thief's End just a matter of weeks away Sony has released a new trailer. For a story trailer, it's... pretty light on story. But it at least offers some rough ideas on the nature of the adventure. Oh, and did we mention it looks incredible?
'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' delayed once more to April
If you're itching to experience what has been described as Nathan Drake's final chapter, you'll have to sit tight for just a little bit longer. Developer Naughty Dog has announced another delay for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, this time pushing it back from March 18th to April 26th in the US, April 27th across Europe and April 29th in the UK. The extra few weeks, according to creative director Neil Druckmann and game director Bruce Straley, are needed to give "several key sequences" more polish.
The 'Uncharted 4' beta launches ahead of schedule
We didn't know the specifics of exactly when the Uncharted 4: A Thief's End multiplayer beta would launch before, but that's changed. Nathan Drake's online adversarial adventures, and, by extension, yours, begin at 5 PM GMT (12 PM Eastern) tomorrow for European folks. Domestically, we'll have to wait for Friday. We've reached out to Sony for exact timing of when the test phase will go live in the US and will update this post should the company respond. Remember, you still need a copy of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection to access the beta at all.
'Uncharted' for beginners: My first romp with Nathan Drake
I am the 80 percent. Let me explain: Sony recently released a remastered collection of the Uncharted series for the PlayStation 4. The games were all critically acclaimed, with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves ranking among the best games of the last decade, but developer Naughty Dog says that 80 percent of PS4 owners have never played them. I'm part of that group, and I figured it was high time to catch up with one of the most lauded trilogies of the last decade. Now that I'm in the thick of Nathan Drake's adventures, I'm going to answer one question: If you've never played Uncharted, are these games worth your time?
'Uncharted' borrows from cinema to sidestep clunky game design
Developer Naughty Dog's games have always had a flair for the cinematic and that's due in large part to their presentation. The studio takes a minimalistic approach to how it delivers information to the player, eschewing ugly on-screen means of directing you where to go by using filmic techniques like smart scene composition and color to subtly guide the players from one area to the next. In the video below, YouTuber Mark Brown explores Uncharted 3's opening, breaking down how Naughty Dog pretty masterfully keeps players on the right track during the rooftop chase sequence without it feeling claustrophobically linear.
Playdate: Revisiting 'Uncharted' in 'The Nathan Drake Collection'
PlayStation doesn't have an official mascot character, but if it did, developer Naughty Dog's Nathan Drake would probably fit the bill. Much like Microsoft did last year with Halo: The Master Chief Collection to get fans ready for Halo 5: Guardians on Xbox One, Sony's gone back and revamped the three main Uncharted games and put them into Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection to prep folks for next spring's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End on PlayStation 4. How do the eight, six and four year old games hold up? And was the remastering really necessary? Tune in on this post, Twitch.tv/joystiq (if you'd like to join us in chat) or the Engadget Gaming homepage at 6pm Eastern / 3pm Pacific as myself and Sean Buckley find out.
'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' hits PS4 on March 18th
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, the final game in Naughty Dog's Indiana Jones-style adventure series, will hit PlayStation 4 on March 18th, 2016. We got a taste of the game right after E3 2015 with an extended, action-packed trailer that features protagonist Nathan Drake shooting up bad guys, driving through a mountainside city and surviving all manner of seemingly lethal evasion tactics. There are a few versions of the game up for pre-order this week, including the Special Edition, which costs $80 and includes a steelbook case, an art book, in-game currency, a sticker sheet and the game on Blu-ray.
The 'Uncharted' PS4 collection isn't just a quick-and-dirty port
There's no doubt that Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is an attempt to rekindle interest in the franchise (and score some extra sales) ahead of Uncharted 4's release next year. However, that doesn't mean that Bluepoint Games' PlayStation 4 port of the first three Uncharted games is a simple cash-in. The team at Digital Foundry has conducted a shot-by-shot comparison of the anthology's trailer with the respective moments in the PS3 games, and it's clear that there are many, many little visual upgrades (beyond just the jumps to 1080p and 60 frames per second) that add up to a lot. More detailed objects are everywhere, lighting is more natural and cinematic depth-of-field effects occasionally pop up -- just take a look at Nathan and Sully in the PS4 edition (pictured at left) versus its PS3 counterpart (right). There are even elements that weren't there at all before. The games treat fire and dust differently than they did in the past, and you'll see new details like low-hanging clouds.
'The Last of Us' soundtrack is getting a gorgeous vinyl release
Somehow The Last of Us didn't make it onto our list of favorite video game soundtracks, but fret not because it is getting an extremely pretty vinyl release. This Wednesday, Mondo will drop the four 180-gram LP boxed set featuring art by Jay Shaw and the inimitable Olly Moss at a random time. Modern Vinyl says that it'll contain not only Gustavo Santaolalla's score, but also ambient cues from the game in addition to music from the Ellie-focused Left Behind expansion episode. The pricing will likely make thrift-minded folks choke a bit -- $75, all said -- but given the quality of Mondo's work in general, this is probably going to be a really nice release. It'll almost assuredly sell out incredibly quickly and hit collector's item status in short order, too. Should you want in, your best bet is to keep an eye on the art-minded reseller's Twitter feed come hump day.
'Uncharted 4' looks like a ghost from E3's past
Drake gets into some vehicular mayhem of his own, knocking out wooden supports from terraces that overlook alleys. The scale feels much bigger, however, based on the onstage demo tonight from Sony's media briefing. The whole time, Drake's accompanied by Sully, offering comic relief, moral support and hopefully a neckbrace to help prevent whiplash.
'Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection' brings Naughty Dog's trilogy to PS4
After Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was pushed into 2016, PlayStation 4 owners hungry for supernatural-tinged archaeological adventure, adequate gunplay and roguish quips were braced for a disappointing year. Then with the easy charm of a cad with his shirt only half-tucked in, Sony made a reassuring announcement on Thursday. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection will bring all three PlayStation 3 games in the series to the new console with a bevy of technological upgrades this fall, making the wait for Uncharted 4 that much easier.
'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' delayed until spring 2016
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, the latest sequel in Sony and Naughty Dog's hugely popular action adventure game series and the first entry on PlayStation 4, has been pushed from its 2015 release date to spring 2016.
Take a look at the next Uncharted on the PlayStation 4
Uncharted's swashbuckling adventures already looked good on the PlayStation 3, so how will they improve on the PS4? Quite a lot, apparently. Naughty Dog has just shown off the first gameplay from Uncharted 4 at PlayStation Experience, and we won't lie: it's gorgeous. Characters look so good in-game that you'd think you were watching a cutscene, while even cliff faces (and there are many cliff faces) appear all too real. You'll also see some new game mechanics that promise to inject new life into the series, including grappling hooks and pinions that get you across seemingly impossible challenges. It's a shame that you'll still have to wait until 2015 to play, but this preview suggests that it could be worth the wait.
