'I Think That Was a Big Flaw' — Uncharted 3 Designer Says the Game Was Hindered by Too Many Set Pieces

Former Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell has claimed that the over-the-top set pieces in Uncharted 2 may have hindered the development of Uncharted 3. According to Russell, who spoke with FRVR, Uncharted 2 featured sequences like the train sequence, which were developed organically during the game's creation. However, this approach did not carry over to Uncharted 3, where the team initially planned around 10 to 12 set pieces, such as the cargo plane sequence.

Unfortunately, this plan never materialized, and most of the set pieces made it into the final game. As a result, writer and director Amy Hennig had to incorporate all these big set pieces into the game, giving her less creative freedom. Russell added, "It also kind of corners Amy [Hennig] a bit, right?" implying that the pressure to include these set pieces made Hennig's job more challenging.

Despite its critical acclaim, Uncharted 3 has been noted to rank lower than other titles in the series. However, the cargo plane sequence, a standout moment, even found its way into the Uncharted live-action film a decade later. Naughty Dog concluded the Uncharted series in 2016, but rumors suggest the studio might return for Uncharted 5 soon.