Why Uncharted 3 won't get single-player DLC

By Martin Robinson Published 14 October, 2011

Naughty Dog would rather work on next game.

Uncharted 3 won't get any single player DLC - and Naughty Dog says it's because the studio would rather be working on its next game.

Uncharted 3, like its immediate predecessor, will get full post-release support, with co-op and multiplayer content planned further down the line.

It won't, however, be adding any single player updates - and Naughty Dog is perfectly happy to explain why.

"There's a very specific reason," game director Justin Richmond told Eurogamer. "Whenever we sit down and think we should do some single-player DLC, someone pitches something and we realize - that's a five hour level."

"Dialling back our ambition is difficult," admitted Naughty Dog community strategist Arne Meyer.

"We'd rather build out another game than we would do episodic content," Richmond continued. "We're so small that we can't afford to have a whole team working on DLC."

Uncharted 3 has been produced by a core team of 90 people - nearly a fifth of the number that Activision has put to work on Call of Duty.

"That's why we don't do it," said Richmond, "we'd much rather be working on the next game, producing the game quickly and having people play another adventure."

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception launches over here on November 2, and Naughty Dog are currently in London for a preview event that's open to the public, taking place in London's The Pelican Bar tomorrow afternoon.

Picture of Martin.

About Martin Robinson

Martin is Eurogamer's features editor with responsibility for commissioning, editing and often writing our feature and preview content. He's also passionate about driving games.

Read more articles from Martin by visiting the Martin Robinson archive page.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kinky_mong #1 4 months ago

    "There's a very specific reason," game director Justin Richmond told Eurogamer. "Whenever we sit down and think we should do some single-player DLC, someone says it will be much less effort to make a few extra character skins and sell them instead."

    Fixed that for you.

  • StolenGlory #2 4 months ago

    I would rather that they worked on the next game too.

  • dsmx #3 4 months ago

    I'm impressed that they did uncharted 3 with 90 people.

  • Ultrasoundwave #4 4 months ago

    In Naughty Dog i trust. Ill probably be alone in this, but id love them to make a different game next other that Uncharted 4 - dont get we wrong, i DEFINATELY want to see Uncharted 4 someday, but id like to see what Naughty Dog could do with a completley different type of game.

  • captain_Carl #5 4 months ago

    Yeah i'd much rather they work on a new game. Works for me

  • A_Nonny #6 4 months ago

    "There's a very specific reason," game director Justin Richmond told Eurogamer. "Whenever we sit down and think we should do some single-player DLC, someone pitches something and we realize - that's a five hour level."

    ...and that's a problem?

    Woah, what's the with the negs? You guys wouldn't want a DLC pack that added 5 hours of SP content? The full games are only about 10 hours, and cost far more than a DLC pack would.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/11 @ 17:38

  • nazzyq #7 4 months ago

    Normally single player DLC feels like an attempt to squeeze more cash out of consumers by using left-over ideas from the main campaign. So, yes I applaud this.

  • HyperTails #8 4 months ago

    I'd rather they get to work on a new game as well. Though i'd rather they wait on Uncharted 4, as the series could start to get stale if they keep releasing them. I'd love for them to get to work on a new IP, and then come back to Drake when the time's right.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/11 @ 15:31

  • homerramone #9 4 months ago

    Uncharted 3 also wont get my money... (shakes fist at yet another another another another online pa$$).

    Kinda looking forward to this too.

    Oh well..

  • sybixsus #10 4 months ago

    I'm confused by all the people who say "Game X isn't getting my money because of the online pass". Surely, if you're not getting it because of the online pass, you were going to buy it second hand? So they were never going to get your money anyway.

  • TheBrotha #11 4 months ago

    Sybixsus. I love your insight. All the online pass detractors really need to silence themselves. The isn't even that much of a difference in price nowadays with new vs preowned.

  • IonOnion #12 4 months ago

    @homerramone
    Then you'll be missing out on alot of nice games.

    Mass Effect 3
    Battlefield 3
    Batman Arkham City

    all have online passes

  • Moarachanox #13 4 months ago

    better 90 people who entertain there fans instead of 450 people who milk there customers

  • -cerberus- #14 4 months ago

    And so it should be. Cookies for everyone working at Naughty Dog.

  • homerramone #15 4 months ago

    @IonOnion

    >Mass Effect 3
    Got bored quite soon into 2.. dont care

    >Battlefield 3
    Dont like battlefield. COD gets irritating - often - but not as much as BF.

    >Batman Arkham City
    Wouldve gotten it maybe.. but now I know it has an offline online pass - for that reason - im out.

  • Lunastra78 #16 4 months ago

    I don't know what is most surprising - that so few people are needed to make an Uncharted game, or that so many are needed to make a CoD game.

  • sonicyoda #17 4 months ago

    "Uncharted 3 won't get any single player DLC - and Naughty Dog says it's because the studio would rather be working on its next game."

    And for that I have massive respect for them.

  • Johnsters #18 4 months ago

    >>I don't know what is most surprising - that so few people are needed to make an Uncharted game, or that so many are needed to make a CoD game.


    I guess you need more folks to build on multiple platforms and then 50 people to hype it up.

  • makeamazing #19 4 months ago

    I love the online pass and i love UC... so cannot wait for UC3.. ;)

    Seriously... if you REALLY like a game so much why would you buy it second hand and prevent the developers getting your money for their hard work, and risk them never making any more games. Sometimes gamers brains do not compute. It's even funnier when you take into account people only sometimes saving a few pounds on second hand stock...

    Anyway, I think they should make UC4 next, but for the PS4 rather than worrying about UC4 on PS3. I think that will help sales of the console when its released and be a true showcase of what the PS4 can do. Though it would be nice to see what else they can do.. but i always worry it would be something i wouldn't like and then be disappointed that UC4 would be delayed a few years because of this *other* game.

  • Snake_2011 #20 4 months ago

    UC4 will be a PS4 release title I reckon. the quality of a UC game beats most.
    Edited by 1 at 14/10/11 @ 16:39

  • eviroboy #21 4 months ago

    No time to add to the single player but plenty of time to churn out multiplayer crap? Nice to see where the priorities lie. New games are good but either support both sides of a game or don't support either...that way you'll have even more time to concentrate on the next game!

  • varsas #22 4 months ago

    @eviroboy: You don't see the difference between crafting a single player campaign to adding maps to a multi-player game?

  • makeamazing #23 4 months ago

    @varsas, no he cannot see the difference, because most trolls don't ;)

  • eviroboy #24 4 months ago

    Best not try and cross my bridge then.

  • peterfll #25 4 months ago

    Well, swings and roundabouts etc, as I couldn't care less about the online pass stuff, I never play online anything. In fact, I will probably start posting code passes on here so a fellow EG'er can use them if they wanted.

  • LR100 #26 4 months ago

    The multiplayer mode in Uncharted 2 was alright, but I had absolutely no interest in it at all. For me, these games are all about the single player experience and I would rather not have some side story bolted on needlessly to it through DLC.

  • martmart #27 4 months ago

    Making one of the best games series ever and not milking it does deserve lots of respect. Naughty Dog know and we know they could make a lot more money with regular DLC but they don't. They just go and make an even better game

  • KimboDice #28 4 months ago

    Simple solution hire more staff with the money your making.

  • Repsode #29 4 months ago

    Eh. That's ok. If their past franchise history is anything to go by I'm sure Uncharted: Dune Buggy Racing will be all the better for this decision.

  • Mr_Git #30 4 months ago

    I've not any problems with the online pass, and normally i'd probably be mildly outraged by the premise. PC games have been doing worse for years; at least console games can still be viably traded. Games like this i'll be buying new. I made the mistake of buying Mortal Kombat second hand from Gamestation and even after spending ages picking the nicest box off the shelf I still got the grubbiest shite from behind the counter, the online pass was instantly rectified by downloading it off a friend's account. Still regretted not buying it new; i'd much rather a jizzless box and a nice smelling manual. Some developers also deserve your money. Massive protip for idiots by the way: It is often cheaper buying a game off an online store NEW than it is buying it smeg encrusted and second hand from a retail store. Some people really need a poke in the face.

  • slivir #31 4 months ago

    Bravo ND, I wish more developers shared your view. Love Uncharted and can't wait for UC3, though I hope they take a break after this and focus on making another game for a change. Wait for PS4 before releasing UC4 perhaps?

  • TudeScud #32 4 months ago

    I really don't get the hatred of possible single player DLC from Naughty Dog. They're still the same developers. Yet, at the same time, I see acceptance for an online pass. Does the prospect of not being able to resell your game content bother you, perhaps? Or is it just that DLC seems inconvenient?

  • IvorB #33 4 months ago

    Oh Naughty Dog! You say all the right things. Yes, you should not allocated your precious resource towards superfluous extra content so you can nickle and dime your fans. Yes, all your development resource should be focused on making the actual games you sell awesome. I really dig these guys. I think I will definitely go say 'hello' to them in Soho today.

  • RockyMotion #34 4 months ago

    People love the online pass? Do they love being fucked in the arse too?

  • HeNiCiDe1988 #35 4 months ago

    I didnt realize the number was so small that worked on it. Well I can get where they coming from. Its easier just to make new maps than a whole new chunk with writing, voice acting etc. So its alright if they dont do DLC because the multiplayer will have me addicted.

    Actually TudeScud I think the online pass stuff like the prices for some DLC is decided by the publishers, in this case sony whom are the publishers probably brought in online pass and I bet if you asked a naughty dog employee they would probably not care about online passes.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/11 @ 16:58

  • Lateralus2001 #36 4 months ago

    I don't get why a small number of people seem to hate the online pass so much?

    It cost developers and/or publishers money to run servers for online play.

    So if you chose to buy the game second hand (which I've nothing against BTW) do you really think its wrong for them to expect you to pay for the service they will be providing?



  • RockyMotion #37 4 months ago

    ^^
    When a game changes hands, one person stops using that service and the person who bought it starts using the service. The game's online mode doesn't get more players each time the game is resold. They never needed this BS to keep servers running before, why would they now? It's one more disgusting way to get easy money, besides petty DLC that comes locked in the game disc.
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/11 @ 00:09

  • silents #38 4 months ago

    Its the retailers like game/gamestation gamers should be mad at not the publishers/developers for online passes. Its the retailers that are ripping gamers off, the sooner game fucks its self the better.
    Edited by 2 at 16/10/11 @ 01:46

  • TudeScud #39 4 months ago

    Yes, I agree Henicide, I might be projecting a bit by sounding upset on that point. Really though, unless they (those who agree that Uncharted should push the content to the next game) have some issue with story content (substantial at that) offered as DLC, I feel compelled to ask what that issue is. This content was never being withheld from release. The content is presumably at least near the same level of quality (lets say less central to the plot or not as breathtaking, but still well-written and very fun to play).

    Now, I myself can see a valid argument. The game feels like it has less intrinsic value when it's locked to a console. Just as is the case when a second hand purchaser cannot play multiplayer without extra fees to unlock (perhaps the only reason they're buying pre-owned was because they didn't want to put the 'extra' money in for the single player, lets say). Or just as is the case when I buy a game with multiplayer, but the prospects of playing it in the future are dim because the second hand market is not maintaining the player base. The best solution I submit is opening up the services (which is how I can play Heroes 3 online to this day without ever paying a dime extra).

    Okay, I'm ranting, I guess a simple answer to why 64 people agree that "I would rather that they worked on the next game too." without my insinuation would do, lol.
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/11 @ 14:07

  • alcides #40 4 months ago

    local multiplayer is enough thanks.

    Just hoping it's split screen multiplayer and not stupid 2D with glasses multiplayer.

  • Nikanoru #41 4 months ago

    Holy crap, the voting behaviour in this thread is bizarre. How the hell are people getting negged so badly for disliking this online pass thing? Who the hell thinks that bullshit is a good idea? Wtf?

  • ballshock #42 4 months ago

    That's how it should be done.

  • bionic #43 4 months ago

    I hope the next game is Uncahrted 4

  • bionic #44 4 months ago

    Elana, is she Eastern European ?

  • kenichi-san #45 4 months ago

    Good strategy!