'Uncharted 4: A Thief's End' release date delayed to 2016

Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty Dog

"Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" is no longer going to be rolled out this fall as its release has been pushed back to next year. No exact date has been given, but director Neil Druckmann of game studio Naughty Dog estimates that the title will be available by spring of 2016.

Druckmann announced on the Playstation blog that the PS4-exclusive title is more ambitious than initially envisioned by the team. 

"This game deserves every bit of the attention to detail, precise pacing, and nuanced storytelling Naughty Dog is known for. So we've made the difficult choice of pushing the game's release date," the director posted. 

He also explained that the team is going to use the extra time to meet the high standards of both the fans and the development team. 

Sony initially announced the game during last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, right off the heels of their most successful title yet, "The Last of Us." In-game footage of "Uncharted 4" was then glimpsed during the Playstation Experience held last December. 

Other than the statements posted on the blog, no official reason for the delay was given. According to KPopStarz, the team might need more time to refine the game's engine and graphics. On the other hand, news outlet International Business Times states that the team is refining the melee combat system for the game as well as its multiplayer aspect. IBTimes also deems that Naughty Dog is experimenting with more realistic scenarios such as climbing tall objects like trees, walls, or even hills. 

What has been confirmed is that the team behind the multiplayer mode of "The Last of Us" has returned to work on the multiplayer for "Uncharted 4." Lead designer Robert Cogburn confirmed via Twitter that the fans would have nothing to worry about regarding the game's multiplayer aspect. Working on better multiplayer options may also be a reason for the title's delayed release.