Shaun Escayg, a veteran creative director at Naughty Dog, is reportedly leading a major unannounced project that is not part of the The Last of Us franchise. While the studio recently confirmed it has two separate projects in development within the The Last of Us universe, recent reports suggest Escayg’s team is focused on reviving the developer’s other flagship adventure series.

According to leaker NateTheHate, the project Escayg is currently directing is a new entry in the Uncharted series. This development follows a period of speculation regarding the franchise’s future after Naughty Dog leadership suggested in 2023 that the studio had “moved on” from Nathan Drake’s story. However, a report from MP1st on October 1, 2026, claims that while the project may feature new leads, Nathan Drake is expected to appear in the game in some capacity, though his specific role remains unconfirmed.

Connecting the Research to the Rumors

The possibility of a new Uncharted aligns with Escayg’s own social media activity from early 2026. During that period, the director shared several “research” images from a trip to Trinidad and Tobago. The photos featured dense tropical foliage, coastal ruins, and geographical landmarks that mirror the environmental aesthetic of previous Uncharted titles. Given Escayg’s history as the creative director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, his return to a tropical setting for an unannounced title has fueled theories that the project has been in active development for approximately three years.

This project appears to be distinct from Naughty Dog’s other confirmed production tracks. Earlier this week, Naughty Dog officially acknowledged that work continues on two The Last of Us titles, likely ensuring the franchise remains a pillar of their output. Simultaneously, the studio is preparing for a 2027 full reveal of its new sci-fi intellectual property, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

If the reports regarding Escayg’s project are accurate, Naughty Dog is currently managing one of the most ambitious roadmaps in its history, balancing two established franchises alongside an entirely new universe. The timeline suggests that while Intergalactic may be the studio’s next major release, the Uncharted revival could be positioned as a mid-generation tentpole for the PlayStation 5’s successor or a late-cycle blockbuster for current hardware.

Naughty Dog has not officially commented on the existence of a new Uncharted or provided specifics on Shaun Escayg’s current role beyond his general standing as a creative lead at the studio.