Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The gaming industry has seen its fair share of creative shake-ups, but few have sparked as much curiosity (and controversy) as Amy Hennig’s departure from Naughty Dog in 2014. As the creative force behind theUnchartedseries, Hennig had spent two years crafting Nathan Drake’s swan song before unexpectedly leaving the studio.
What followed was a fascinating tale of “what could have been.” With Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley stepping in fresh off their success withThe Last of Us, many elements of Hennig’s original vision were reimagined or completely scrapped.
But just how different was theUncharted 4we got from the one Hennig had planned?
Amy Hennig’s Original Vision forUncharted 4
While the core DNA ofUncharted 4remained largely intact through its development transition, some key elements underwent dramatic changes. In Hennig’s version, Sam Drake,played by the talented Troy Baker, wasn’t just Nathan’s long-lost brother seeking help—he was meant to be a more complex, antagonistic presence from the start.
Amy Hennig Won’t Reveal Why She Left Naughty Dog But Her Final Days Were Truly Heartbreaking: ‘You start realizing how debilitating it is’
As Hennig revealed toVG247in a 2019 interview:
The major differences had to do with like, I was introducing the idea of Sam as the brother. But my take on it was sort of different, that it was a little bit more—I mean I wouldn’t call him the antagonist in the classic sense, but it was an antagonistic force in Drake’s life that he then had to reconcile.
The journey from antagonist to ally would have been a central theme, rather than the more straightforward brotherly dynamic we got in the final game. Think less “Hey bro, I need your help” and more “complicated family drama with a side of treasure hunting.”
Interestingly though, many of the game’s core elementswere established during Hennig’s tenure:
So all the beats, if you look at the chapter beats—with the exception of we didn’t have the flashbacks to his childhood and then we didn’t have the Nadine character—but just looking at the break by break that sorted the chapters, like where they go, what was happening, that was all while I was there.
But while some elements were preserved, it’s what Hennig’s versiondidn’tinclude that sparked the most interesting discussions post-release.
The Controversy That Could Have Been Avoided
The childhood flashbacks that helped establish Sam and Nathan’s relationship? Not part of the plan. But more notably, Nadine Ross, a character who would become the center of a heated controversy, didn’t exist in Hennig’s vision at all.
WhenUncharted 4finally released, the decision to cast Laura Bailey, a white actress, to play Nadine, a black character, sparked intense debate. The controversy deepened when it wasrevealedthat Naughty Dog had designed Nadine’s appearanceaftercasting Bailey, with no physical description of the character during auditions beyond “a strong-willed, intelligent, powerful woman with a South African dialect.”
We Would Love Uncharted 5 But Troy Baker’s Announcement isn’t Enough to Actually Demand a Sequel
The debate around Nadine’s character and casting overshadowed much of the discourse surrounding the game’s release. However, in an interesting twist of fate, Nadine Ross would go on to become a fully-fledged protagonist inUncharted: The Lost Legacy, where her character development and partnership with Chloe Frazer earned significant praise from both critics and fans alike.
Still, looking back atAmy Hennig‘s more focused narrative approach, some wonder if less might have been more. After all, sometimes simplicity is the key to great storytelling—just ask Nathan Drake about carrying too much treasure in his pockets.
What do you think about these revelations? Would you have preferred to see Hennig’s original vision forUncharted 4, or do you think Druckmann and Straley made the right calls? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Soumyajit Mukherjee
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :966
Soumyajit Mukherjee is a Gaming Writer at FandomWire, known for his deep dives into tactical shooters and co-op games. Since joining in June 2024, he’s focused on breakout multiplayer titles like Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals, bringing sharp analysis and veteran instincts to every story. His gaming journey began at a local café with the OG Modern Warfare 2, and from that very first frag, he’s been chasing the rush ever since.A former competitive Rainbow Six Siege team captain, Soumyajit has played and written about everything from CS:GO, Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends to Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Battlefield. He’s proudly PC-first and has been since said LAN days… but with GTA 6 looming on the horizon, a long-overdue PS5 might finally sneak onto his setup.
