'Uncharted 4' release date set for this year as new screenshots released

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"Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" looks spectacular in the new batch of screenshots Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has shared, although some were released before via Game Informer. One photo from the bunch is said to be the game's official cover art, according to NeoGAF user Shinobi602. The leakster said that the image in question is named "U4 Pack Art Final." However, Naughty Dog and Sony have yet to corroborate on the matter. 

More insight about the upcoming title's storyline was also dug up and PlayStation Universe lays it all out. The famous "old habits die hard" adage seems to be true for the game protagonist Nathan Drake, who finds himself in the middle of another adventure after his promise to turn away from fortune hunting for good. His brother, Sam, tells him about a quest he cannot refuse, leading the duo into the forests of Madagascar, the home of the pirate utopia Libertalia, to search for Captain Henry Avery's long-lost treasure. However, players will have to travel across the world, traverse into "jungle isles, urban cities and snow-capped peaks" to get a hold of the jackpot. 

What's missing in the pool of new details and rumors is the game's release date. Naughty Dog had its share of drawbacks, not to mention its attention completely fixed on other projects like "The Last of Us." The game studio devoted its time to the title, which was undoubtedly a smash hit. The exit of series writer Amy Hennig and game director Justin Richmond also posed a bit of a challenge to Naughty Dog.

Despite all that, E3 2014  saw a glimpse of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End," after the "The Last of Us" crew was tapped to continue building the game. 

Gamerant also broached Naughty Dog's little effort to build hype around the upcoming action-adventure third-person shooter title. The site, however, concluded that the game studio's move to keep "Uncharted 4" details to a minimum is due to the imminent release of "The Order: 1886," which the site said bears some resemblance to "Uncharted." When "The Order: 1886" is already out, Gamerant believes that Naughty Dog will take over. In turn, fans can expect that "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" will be released in 2015.