A fascinating new documentary has revealed just how different Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End originally looked under former Naughty Dog creative director Amy Hennig.
While the final version of Uncharted 4 is widely considered one of the greatest PlayStation games ever made, it turns out players almost received a completely different experience — or potentially no game at all.
The massive deep dive comes courtesy of YouTuber Thekempy, whose nearly 1 hour and 30 minute documentary explores the lost version of Uncharted 4 before major development changes reshaped the project.
Naughty Dog’s Original Uncharted 4 Was Very Different
The documentary, titled “Uncovering Amy Hennig’s Uncharted 4,” dives into early development footage, motion capture sessions, scrapped mechanics, alternate storylines, and behind-the-scenes details surrounding the original vision for the game.
According to the documentary, Amy Hennig’s version of Uncharted 4 differed significantly from the final product released by Naughty Dog.
Some of the biggest revelations include:
- Entire levels that never made the final game
- Alternate story beats and character arcs
- Different casting choices for major characters
- New gameplay mechanics that were eventually cut
- Significant story changes involving Sam Drake
Sam Drake Was Originally More Villainous
One of the most interesting details revealed is that Sam Drake originally played a much darker role in the story.
While Sam still carries morally questionable traits in the final release, the original version reportedly leaned much harder into making him feel like a true antagonist.
Even more surprising, Sam Drake was initially planned to be portrayed by actor Todd Stashwick instead of Troy Baker.
Similarly, Rafe Adler was reportedly set to be played by Alan Tudyk before the role eventually went to Warren Kole.
Charlie Cutter Was Supposed to Return
Fans of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception may also be interested to learn that Charlie Cutter was originally planned to return in Uncharted 4.
However, after development shifted directions and leadership changed, the character was ultimately removed from the game entirely.
Nathan Drake’s Original Adventure Began Very Differently
One especially fascinating piece of early footage shown around the 5:50 mark in the documentary reveals a completely different opening setup for Nathan Drake.
Instead of working a normal salvage job in a regular day-to-day lifestyle, Nathan was originally shown hunting underwater wreckage alongside Elena and Sully while searching for Henry Avery’s lost ship.
The footage alone gives a glimpse into how different the tone and pacing of the game may have originally been.
The Famous Orphanage Section Almost Didn’t Exist
Another major difference is that the playable orphanage sequence — one of the most memorable emotional sections in the final game — apparently did not exist in Amy Hennig’s version.
Whether that would have been a good or bad change probably depends entirely on who you ask.
A Must-Watch Documentary for Uncharted Fans
Even for players who already adore the final version of Uncharted 4, the documentary offers an incredible look behind the curtain at how dramatically games can evolve during development.
From alternate casting decisions to entirely different gameplay ideas, it’s honestly hard to believe how close players came to experiencing a very different Uncharted finale.
If you’re even remotely interested in game development, canceled content, or the history of Naughty Dog, this documentary is absolutely worth watching.
