Uncharted 4 delayed until spring 2016

Sony has announced that highly anticipated Uncharted 4 will be delayed until the spring of 2016.

Naughty Dog directors Neil Druckmann and Bruce Starley said the delay was down to polish and to ensure the game meets the expectations, the very high expectations, of fans.

"Since we showed you our first gameplay reveal of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, more of the game and story have come together, and it's become clear to us that this game is much more ambitious than we originally envisioned," they said in a statement.

"After spending so many years with Nathan Drake, he means a lot to the team, and telling the climactic chapter of his adventures is a task we don't take lightly--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. Giving us a few extra months will make certain that Uncharted 4: A Thief's End not only meets the team's high standards but the high standards that gamers have come to expect from a Naughty Dog title."

Although the game was due to release this year, Sony had never set a date, and with other AAA titles being delayed this year, it’s no real surprise to hear that a flagship title for the Sony platform is being held back to ensure a successful release. Only Ubisoft has really delivered on schedule with most of it’s titles, yet did have a huge amount of issues specifically with Assassin’s Unity (even that was delayed) and The Crew.

But for Drake fans, you’re going to have to be a little more patient…

"Thank you for your patience--we know the extra wait will be excruciating, but you'll see it will be worth it as we reveal more about Uncharted 4 over the next year," the statement said.

"The team at Naughty Dog will be heads down working through 2015 making sure that Nathan Drake's story gets the closure it deserves. Come spring 2016, you and Nate are in for one thrilling, emotional ride."