Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will contain the largest level developer Naughty Dog has ever made for an Uncharted game. The news comes via the latest issue of Game Informer, where Naughty Dog confirms the level, which will take place in the Western Ghats mountain range in India, is bigger than the previously biggest-ever level for the series: the Madagascar level in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
For those that don't know: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is an entirely standalone expansion that stars fan-favorite and one of the series’ more prominent characters, Chloe Frazer. In the expansion, Chloe teams up with renowned mercenary Nadine Ross, — who you may know from Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End — in order to recover a fabled ancient Indian artifact and keep it out of the hands of a ruthless war profiteer.
Word of the expansion containing the biggest ever level specifically came from the mouth of designer James Cooper, who said the following:
"This is the single largest level we've ever done in Uncharted. Geographically, it's much bigger than Madagascar, which was previously our largest level."
How big this level is exactly, wasn't divulged. However, game director Kurt Margenau revealed -- and you would expect this from a big level -- that players won't be forced down one path while playing through the level. Margenau specifically said the following:
"We have this really great location with the rural Western Ghats that allows us to get a true sense of exploration, unlike anything we've done before where the level design isn't directing you exactly where to go.
Further, every area in The Lost Legacy will contain its own unique them. Specifically, the Western Ghats level will feature waterfalls, currents, mud climbs, and boulders, all stuff according to Cooper that is "really challenging to get around." Thus the jeep from Uncharted 4 is poised for a return in the expansion, as well as its winch tool. Whether Nadine and Chloe's banter about the winch tool can match the banter of Drake and Sully, well that remains to be seen.
According to Margenau, never before has Naughty Dog given players so much side content and extras to discover, this includes more collectibles, new weaponry, extra encounters, and special triggers for dialogue between characters.
It was also confirmed that Chloe will not have a paper journal like Drake notably does, instead she is a bit more modern on her adventures, and uses a phone to record activity and take notes.
Margenua said that this decision was made because the journal is "kind of Drake's thing," and that Naughty Dog didn't just want to give her a journal too as a result.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is set to be the first ever standalone release in history of the Uncharted series and will be Naughty Dog’s most substantial story expansion to date. It will be available as a standalone PS4 game on store shelves, as well as for digital download. If you already purchased the Uncharted 4 Digital Deluxe Edition or the Explorer’s Pack, you will automatically receive the expansion at launch.
Additionally, it has been confirmed in the Game Informer issue that The Lost Legacy will come with access to Uncharted 4's multiplayer and Survival modes.