It is 2026. You’d think a game released back in 2016 would be a ghost town by now, especially a console-exclusive multiplayer mode that many people treated as a "side dish" to Nathan Drake’s final cinematic adventure. But the Uncharted 4 PS4 multiplayer community is stubborn. It’s weirdly alive. You can still find a match in Team Deathmatch faster than you can in some modern shooters that launched six months ago.
People loved A Thief's End for the story. The graphics. That emotional gut-punch of an ending. Yet, the multiplayer was where Naughty Dog actually experimented with the mechanics of third-person movement in a way that feels incredibly satisfying even today. It wasn't just a cover shooter. It was a vertical playground.
The mechanics of Uncharted 4 PS4 multiplayer that modern games forgot
Most modern shooters are obsessed with "boots on the ground" or, conversely, chaotic hero abilities that break the game’s flow. Uncharted 4 found a middle ground that honestly shouldn't have worked as well as it did. You have the grappling hook. It’s the soul of the movement system. Swinging across a gap to land a cinematic "charged melee" hit on someone's head is a high you just don't get from a standard military sim.
Naughty Dog used their experience from The Last of Us to refine the gunplay, making it feel "weighty" but significantly faster. You aren't just hiding behind a crate waiting for a health bar to regenerate. You're constantly moving. If you stay still, you're dead. The level design facilitates this—maps like River or Treasury are built with loops and vertical layers that encourage flanking.
Then there are the Mysticals.
This was a controversial addition at launch. Some players wanted a "pure" gunplay experience. But things like the Wrath of El Dorado (a spectral sarcophagus that shoots spirits at enemies) or the Spirit of the Djinn (which lets you teleport-dash) added a layer of strategy that keeps the meta from getting stale. You have to manage your in-game cash. Do you buy a heavy weapon like the Barok .44, or do you save up for a Sidekick?
Sidekicks are another layer. Calling in a Sniper or a Brute changes the geometry of the fight. It forces the enemy team to react. It’s not just about who has the better aim; it’s about who manages their economy better during the 15-minute match.
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Why the servers are still running (and why you can still find games)
You might be wondering how the Uncharted 4 PS4 multiplayer servers haven't been shuttered yet. Sony is usually pretty aggressive about keeping their legacy titles online if the player count justifies it. Look at the Killzone or Resistance series—those eventually went dark. But Uncharted has a different kind of staying power.
Part of it is the Legacy of Thieves Collection. When that hit PS5 and PC, it brought a brief surge of interest, though ironically, the PC version famously omitted the multiplayer mode entirely. That decision still stings for a lot of fans. It meant the PS4 version remained the "definitive" way to play the competitive mode. Because the PS5 is backwards compatible, the player base didn't split; it just migrated.
If you jump into a lobby today, you'll see a mix of two types of players. There are the "Lifers"—guys who have been playing since the 2015 beta and know every grenade arc and climbing shortcut. Then there are the "Newbies" who just finished the campaign for the first time and wanted to see what that extra menu option was all about. It makes for a chaotic, sometimes frustrating, but always interesting matchmaking experience.
The game uses a peer-to-peer hybrid system for its networking. While dedicated servers would have been nice, the current setup has allowed the game to stay functional without Naughty Dog needing to pour massive resources into server maintenance in 2026.
The economy of the game: Relics, Uncharted Points, and the grind
Let’s be real for a second. The microtransactions in Uncharted 4 PS4 multiplayer were a bit of a mess at launch. It’s got that "chests" system where you spend Relics—earned through daily challenges and matches—to unlock random cosmetic items or gameplay boosters.
Honestly, it’s a grind. If you’re starting today, don’t expect to have the coolest skins or all the perk variants immediately. However, the game is surprisingly fair about not being "pay-to-win." You can unlock every gameplay-affecting item (weapons, boosters, mysticals) just by playing. The paid currency, Uncharted Points, is mostly for the impatient or those who really want that specific pirate-themed skin for Sully.
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Breakdown of the current "Meta" in 2026:
The meta has settled into a very specific groove. Since there haven't been major balance patches in years, the community has figured out exactly what works.
- The HS39 and Lowe-S: These remain the king of assault rifles. If you want to be competitive, you'll see these everywhere.
- The Aegis 9: Still the most reliable sidearm for most loadouts.
- Helping Hand 3: This is almost mandatory for team play. Reviving teammates faster is often the difference between a win and a wipe.
- Stealth 2: With the amount of marking going on (via Staff of Ayar Manco), being invisible to the radar is huge.
It’s not perfect. Some weapons feel objectively better than others. But the "feel" of the shooting—the way the reticle blooms and the sound of a headshot "ping"—is still top-tier.
Survival Mode: The co-op experience nobody talks about
If you aren't into the sweaty competitiveness of Team Deathmatch or King of the Hill, there’s Survival. This is a 50-wave horde mode that you can play solo or with two friends. It is brutally hard.
Seriously. Trying to get three stars on Crushing difficulty requires actual coordination and specific builds. You’ll fight waves of shorelines mercenaries, armored brutes, and even supernatural "boss" versions of the game’s villains like Avery or Baldridge. It uses the same economy system as the multiplayer but feels like a completely different game. It’s more about resource management and positioning.
Survival mode is actually where a lot of the remaining community hangs out. It's less toxic than the competitive side. You’ll find veterans willing to carry newer players through the tougher stages just for the sake of it. It’s a nice change of pace.
Common misconceptions about the PS4 multiplayer experience
A lot of people think the game is "dead." It isn't. But you do have to be smart about when you play. If you're trying to find a Plunder match at 3:00 AM on a Tuesday in a niche region, you’re going to be sitting in the lobby for a long time. Stick to Team Deathmatch or Survival for the fastest queues.
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Another myth is that you need a PS5 to have a good experience. While the PS5’s SSD helps with loading the game itself, the actual match loading and performance are capped by the game’s original PS4 architecture. You’re playing at 900p (on base PS4) or 1080p (on Pro/PS5) at a targeted 60fps in multiplayer. The frame rate is actually very stable, which is why it still feels "smooth" compared to other older titles.
Also, don't believe the "everyone is cheating" talk. While you might run into the occasional lag-switcher or someone exploiting a map glitch (like getting inside the walls on certain maps), it's not nearly as rampant as people make it out to be on Reddit. Most of the time, you just got outplayed by someone who hasn't stopped playing the game for a decade.
How to get started (or restarted) in 2026
If you’re digging your PS4 out of the closet or downloading the game on your PS5, here is the reality of the situation. You are going to get wrecked for the first few hours. The skill ceiling is surprisingly high because of the movement mechanics.
First thing: go into the settings and adjust your camera sensitivity. The default is way too slow for a game where people are swinging over your head with grappling hooks. Second: play the "Trials" under the multiplayer menu. These are solo challenges that teach you how to use the Mysticals and Sidekicks. They also give you a decent chunk of Relics to start buying chests.
Don't ignore the Loadout Points (LP) system. You start with a limited amount and unlock more as you get kills. This limits how many high-tier items you can equip at once. It’s a balancing act. Do you want a powerful primary weapon, or do you want more passive boosters to help your team?
Practical steps for the modern player:
- Focus on Team Deathmatch first. It’s the most populated playlist and the best way to learn the maps without the pressure of complex objectives.
- Use the Grappling Hook constantly. Not just for swinging, but for the "hook melee." It’s an instant down if you land it from the air.
- Invest in "Revive Paks." Being a team player earns you more cash in-match than being a lone wolf.
- Join a community. There are still active Discord servers and PlayStation Groups dedicated to Uncharted 4. Finding a consistent group to play with makes the experience 100% better and helps mitigate the matchmaking lottery.
Uncharted 4 PS4 multiplayer is a relic of a time when every big single-player game felt the need to include a robust online mode. But unlike many of its peers, it was actually good. It wasn't just a tacked-on feature. It was a well-thought-out expansion of the game’s core mechanics.
The graphics still hold up. The sound design is crisp. The movement is fluid. Even in 2026, it offers a flavor of third-person combat that you really can't find anywhere else. It’s fast, it’s chaotic, and it’s quintessentially Uncharted. If you own the game, there’s no reason not to jump back in for a few matches. Just watch out for the guys who have been practicing their grenade throws for ten years.
To make the most of your return, check your library for the Legacy of Thieves upgrade if you're on PS5, though remember you'll need the original PS4 disc or digital version installed to access the multiplayer component. Start by clearing the daily challenges to build up your Relic count, and don't be afraid to mute the occasional salty veteran in the lobby. The game is best enjoyed with the music up and your expectations of a "quick win" set to low.