Nolan North Says He Is Ready to Return if Uncharted 5 Happens

Nolan North has made it clear that he would be more than willing to return as Nathan Drake should Sony decide to revive Uncharted for a new mainline adventure. The longtime voice and performance actor for PlayStation's globe-trotting treasure hunter recently said he has even tried to keep himself in shape in case that call ever arrives.

It is an understandably tantalizing prospect for fans who have spent years wondering whether Nathan Drake's story is truly finished. There is still no official announcement of Uncharted 5, no confirmation that North has been approached, and no formal word on what a future game's cast or premise might look like. But persistent reports have suggested that a new installment in the adventure series may be in development, making North's willingness to return particularly notable.

Speaking during an appearance at Gamergy in Puerto Rico, North said he believes a new Uncharted could become an enormous event for the games business. At the same time, he stressed that he has not personally heard anything concrete about a possible return.

"I think it would be one of the biggest games ever if they decided to do it," North said. "It just depends if Sony wants to make money."

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That playful phrasing reflects the confidence many fans still have in the franchise's appeal. Uncharted was one of the defining PlayStation series of its era, blending blockbuster action, cinematic set pieces, third-person shooting, climbing, puzzle-solving, and character-driven banter. Nathan Drake became one of the medium's most recognizable heroes over the course of four numbered games, while the series also expanded through side releases and the standalone follow-up Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

A franchise with a long absence

The gap since Nathan Drake's last major adventure has now become one of the biggest parts of the conversation. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End launched a decade ago and was built as a conclusive chapter for Drake. Its ending gave the character a more settled life after years of near-impossible escapes, ancient mysteries, and dangerous rival treasure hunters. For many players, it felt like a fitting conclusion rather than a setup for an immediate sequel.

That ending does not necessarily prevent the series from continuing. The franchise has already shown that its world can accommodate other leads. The Lost Legacy put Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross at the center of a full-scale adventure, demonstrating that Uncharted does not rely solely on Nathan Drake to deliver its mix of spectacle and camaraderie.

There is also a natural story possibility in Cassie Drake, Nathan and Elena's daughter, who appears in the epilogue of A Thief's End. A substantial time jump could allow a new game to explore a different generation while retaining a meaningful connection to the original cast. That remains pure fan speculation, however. Sony has not announced a protagonist, setting, timeline, or even confirmed that a new game exists.

North acknowledged that uncertainty directly. "I haven't heard anything," he said, while adding that the commercial logic behind revisiting such a well-known series is easy to see. He suggested that bringing back a franchise with this level of history would create one of gaming's largest announcements.

North's condition for a comeback appears simple

For North, the question does not seem to be whether he wants another opportunity to play Drake. He described the original run as a decade of work alongside close collaborators and a talented development team, and he said he struggles to imagine a circumstance in which he would turn down the chance to come back.

"You know, I try to stay in shape, just in case," North said. "It was 10 years of work with good friends, good people, a great developer. I can't see a scenario that I would say no."

That comment is significant not because it confirms casting, but because performance capture remains an important part of the character. Nathan Drake is not simply a voice role. The series' identity has been heavily shaped by expressive performances, physical acting, comic timing, and the believable chemistry among its central ensemble. A return involving an older Drake would likely benefit from North's continued participation, should the story call for it.

Of course, an Uncharted continuation could also choose a path that needs less--or no--Nathan Drake. A new cast, a new era, or a companion-led story could give the brand room to move forward without undoing the resolution of A Thief's End. That challenge is part of why the possibility remains so interesting: a new entry would need to balance audience nostalgia with a compelling reason to exist beyond nostalgia.

The risk of revisiting a finished story

North also pointed to the danger that comes with reviving a beloved adventure property. In discussing the prospect, he referenced Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as the kind of disappointing return a new Uncharted must avoid. His point was not that another game should never be made, but that an established series carries heightened expectations when it comes back after a long break.

That is especially true for Uncharted, whose reputation rests on a mixture of polished gameplay and cinematic confidence. The strongest entries did not just offer attractive locations and spectacular collapses; they used those sequences to strengthen character relationships and propel a clear adventure-movie rhythm. Any new project would be measured against memorable moments from the earlier games, from train wrecks and collapsing cities to pirate colonies and mountain escapes.

A sequel also arrives in a very different market from the one that greeted Uncharted 4. Big-budget action games are more expensive and slower to produce, while players have become more vocal about remakes, remasters, live-service pivots, sequels, and the preservation of satisfying endings. Sony would need to decide whether the best use of the brand is a direct follow-up, a spin-off, a soft reboot, or something that takes the series in an unexpected direction.

There is an additional expectation around technical ambition. Each major Uncharted release was treated as a visual showcase for PlayStation hardware in its own time. A modern sequel would face pressure to deliver not only grand scenery and elaborate action choreography, but also the sort of refined animation and seamless pacing that players now associate with top-tier first-party games.

What is known about Naughty Dog's future remains limited

Naughty Dog has confirmed that it has multiple games in development. The studio's announced next project is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a new property that indicates the team is not solely focused on its older franchises. Beyond that, the studio has not publicly outlined its full slate.

Reports have nevertheless indicated that Shaun Escayg, who directed Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, may be leading a team on a fresh installment in the adventure series. Escayg's history with the franchise makes the claim easy to understand: The Lost Legacy successfully expanded the formula beyond Drake while retaining the tone, scale, exploration, and character interplay that fans expect.

Still, the distinction between reports and an announcement matters. Game development plans can evolve, projects can change scope, and studios can work on prototypes or concepts that never become public releases. Until Sony or Naughty Dog confirms a title, fans should treat any discussion of Uncharted 5 as unverified.

Why a new Uncharted still feels plausible

Despite that uncertainty, the demand is obvious. Uncharted has remained visible well beyond its most recent game, aided by remastered collections, PC releases of select entries, and its broader pop-culture presence. Its accessible premise--modern treasure hunters chasing historical mysteries across exotic locations--remains naturally suited to a new blockbuster game.

The series also occupies a useful space in PlayStation's lineup. It is more grounded and contemporary than high fantasy, more adventurous than horror, and more immediately optimistic than many post-apocalyptic stories. Its appeal is rooted in motion, humor, discovery, and the fantasy of seeing the next impossible location over the horizon.

North's comments do not move the project any closer to confirmation, but they do offer a reassuring answer to one question fans may have had: if Nathan Drake has a meaningful role in a future Uncharted, the actor most associated with him is eager to take it on. Whether that means a leading role, a mentor-like presence, or a brief appearance for a new generation remains unknown.

For now, Sony has not announced Uncharted 5, and Naughty Dog's public focus remains on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. But with reports continuing to circulate, a director linked to The Lost Legacy reportedly involved, and Nolan North ready to answer the phone, the possibility of another treasure-hunting expedition is unlikely to disappear from fans' minds anytime soon.