Uncharted 1 Remake Prototype Found in The Last of Us Part II Files

Fans are left wondering if there’s any chance the project could still materialize, according to new game files that reveal PlayStation once looked into redoing Nathan Drake’s very first adventure.

Some gaming stories refuse to stay buried, and this one feels like finding a hidden treasure map. A newly discovered prototype tucked away inside The Last of Us Part II has given Uncharted fans a fresh reason to get excited. According to the sources, developers once built an early remake of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, proving that PlayStation had seriously explored bringing Nathan Drake's first adventure into the modern era.

The discovery comes from a data miner who spent time digging through the files of The Last of Us Part II. Hidden inside was a small playable section based on the original Uncharted. The recreated scene reportedly features the moment when Nate and Elena are shot down while flying in Sully's plane, but instead of the aging PlayStation 3 visuals, it was rebuilt with graphics similar to Uncharted 4.

It wasn't a full game by any means. From what's been uncovered, this appears to have been a prototype created to show Sony what a remake could look like. Studios often build these "vertical slices" before a project gets the green light, giving decision-makers a chance to see the vision before committing to a full development budget.

Even though the remake never became an official announcement, its existence says a lot. It confirms that the idea wasn't just something fans had imagined over the years. At some point, PlayStation's developers were seriously thinking about giving the series' first chapter a second life.

That makes plenty of sense when looking at where the franchise stands today.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune first launched in November 2007. It defined the PlayStation 3 generation and brought a new adventure for players with Nathan Drake, Sully and Elena and laid the foundation for one of Sony’s largest series.

Nearly twenty years on, the game still has lots of charm, but it’s undeniable that its gameplay and visuals appear obsolete compared to succeeding entries. That’s why so many fans feel the original game deserves the remake treatment.

Imagine running through all those classic jungles, old ruins and underground bunkers with Uncharted 4's visual fidelity, smoother handling and cinematic presentation. It would be a nostalgia trip for long-time fans, and also the great starting place for those who never played Drake's first journey.

So, is this project still feasible? There’s no official word yet, but in recent years PlayStation has proved that it’s not afraid to revive older favorites. The fact that several great games have already been remade or remastered shows there is a big audience for updated versions of fan favorites.

With Uncharted remaining one of PlayStation's biggest names, revisiting Drake's Fortune doesn't seem like such a far-fetched idea.

Of course, game development is full of concepts that never make it beyond the prototype stage. Ideas are pitched, tested and often shelved before players ever learn about them. But findings like this prove that even shelved projects can offer a glimpse into what studios were preparing behind closed doors.

As it is, the remake is nothing more than an intriguing “what if”. Still, the knowledge that a current version existed previously, even as a short demo, is enough to keep the conversation alive. If PlayStation ever decides to dust off that old prototype, could Nathan Drake's very first adventure finally get the comeback fans have been waiting for?