Nathan Drake is supposedly retired. That’s what they told us back in 2016, and honestly, the ending of A Thief’s End was so perfect it felt like a crime to even suggest a sequel. But then 2022 rolled around, and Sony dropped the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, which effectively stands as the most recent Uncharted game release we’ve seen on modern hardware.
If you’re looking for a brand-new Uncharted 5 or a reboot in 2026, you’re going to be waiting a while. Naughty Dog has been pretty quiet, focusing more on their upcoming sci-fi IP and The Last of Us Part 3. But here’s the thing: people are still sleeping on just how much of a leap this "collection" actually was. It wasn’t just a quick port. It was a massive overhaul that brought Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy into the 4K era, and it remains the best way to experience the franchise.
What actually makes the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection the "newest" experience?
Technically, the "newest" content in the franchise isn't even a new story. It’s the technical wizardry applied to the existing ones. When the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection launched on PS5 and later on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, it fundamentally changed how the games felt.
Most people don't realize that the PS4 versions were locked at 30fps. Playing an action game like this at 30 frames feels like wading through molasses once you’ve seen the alternative. The PS5 version introduced a "Performance+" mode that hits 120fps at 1080p. It is buttery smooth. If you have a high-refresh monitor, the rope-swinging and shootout sequences feel like a completely different game.
Then you’ve got the PC side of things. Iron Galaxy handled the port, and while it had a few stumbles at launch, it’s now the definitive way to see what Naughty Dog’s engine can really do. We’re talking ultra-wide support, 4K textures, and the kind of draw distances that make those Madagascar vistas look like a postcard.
Breaking down the tech specs (The Prose Version)
Instead of a boring chart, let's look at what you’re actually getting. On the PlayStation 5, you have three distinct choices. Fidelity Mode gives you native 4K at a steady 30fps—great for photo mode, but a bit sluggish for combat. Performance Mode is the sweet spot, targeting 60fps with a scaled resolution that still looks incredibly sharp on most TVs. And then there's the 120fps mode I mentioned, which is for the true frame-rate junkies.
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PC players get even more toys. You’ve got FSR 2 support, which is a lifesaver if you’re running on a mid-range rig. It uses AI upscaling to keep your frame rates high without making the screen look like a blurry mess. Plus, if you’re using a DualSense controller wired to your PC, you actually get the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Feeling the tension in the grapple hook through your fingers is a weirdly immersive detail that most ports usually skip.
Why Lost Legacy is the secret MVP of this collection
Everyone talks about Nathan Drake, but honestly? The Lost Legacy might be the better-paced game. Included in the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, this standalone adventure follows Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross through the Western Ghats of India.
It’s shorter, sure. But it’s tighter.
Uncharted 4 is a masterpiece, but it can be a bit... long-winded? There are a lot of "walking and talking" segments that can drag on a second playthrough. The Lost Legacy cuts the fat. It introduces a semi-open world map early on that lets you explore at your own pace, which was a first for the series. Seeing this environment remastered with the updated lighting in the collection is breathtaking. The way the light hits the ancient stone carvings in the jungle is just on another level compared to the original PS4 release.
The 2026 Rumor Mill: Is Uncharted 5 actually happening?
If you’ve been scouring the internet lately, you’ve probably seen the "leaks." There’s a lot of noise about a reboot or a sequel featuring Nate’s daughter, Cassie. Here’s the reality: Naughty Dog hasn't officially announced anything.
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Neil Druckmann has gone on record saying they are "done" with Nathan Drake's story. But he didn't say they were done with the world of Uncharted. In fact, a 2023 studio sizzle reel featured a brief clip of a blonde woman in a cave that looked suspiciously like a new treasure-hunting game.
- The Likely Scenario: If a new game is coming, it’s probably being developed by a different Sony studio under Naughty Dog’s supervision. Think of it like how Golden Abyss was handled by Bend Studio.
- The "Legacy" Factor: Sony knows this is a billion-dollar franchise. With the Tom Holland movie sequel currently in development (Mark Wahlberg recently mentioned he’s been told to start growing the mustache), there is zero chance the gaming series stays dead forever.
Basically, the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection was meant to bridge the gap. It brought the series to PC to find a new audience and polished the PS5 version to keep the brand relevant while they figure out where to go next.
Common misconceptions about the latest release
I see a lot of people asking if they should buy the games separately or get the collection. Don't buy them separately. If you already own Uncharted 4 or The Lost Legacy on PS4, you can usually upgrade to the digital PS5 collection for about ten bucks. It’s the cheapest way to get the graphical boost.
Another big one: "Is the multiplayer included?"
No. And honestly, it’s a bummer. The Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection is strictly single-player. Sony and Naughty Dog decided to cut the multiplayer modes from both games to focus on the narrative experience and the technical upgrades. If you’re a die-hard for the Uncharted 4 multiplayer, you’ll have to stick to the original PS4 version (which is still playable via backward compatibility).
How to get the best experience right now
If you’re diving into the Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection today, here is the move:
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First, if you're on PC, make sure you've got at least 126 GB of space. It’s a massive download because it’s packing two full games with high-res textures. Second, turn off the motion blur. Naughty Dog loves their cinematic blur, but at 60fps or higher, you really don't need it. It just hides the beautiful work they did on the character models.
Third, play The Lost Legacy last. I know it’s tempting to jump into the shorter game first, but it uses mechanics introduced in A Thief’s End and assumes you know the history between the characters. It’s the perfect "dessert" after the main course of the Nathan Drake finale.
The series is in a weird spot in 2026. We’re in that "quiet before the storm" phase. But if you haven't touched these remasters yet, you're missing out on the pinnacle of the action-adventure genre. It’s still the gold standard for how to blend a blockbuster movie with a video game.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your library: See if you're eligible for the $10 upgrade on PS5 instead of paying full price.
- Update your drivers: If you're on PC, the latest Nvidia and AMD drivers have specific optimizations for the Legacy of Thieves Collection that fix the stuttering issues seen at launch.
- Monitor the news: Keep an eye on PlayStation State of Play events in late 2026; that's where any potential "reboot" news is most likely to break.