A documentary by Thekempy reveals significant differences between the released version of Uncharted 4 and the earlier iteration developed under Amy Hennig. Naughty Dog nearly shut down the project because the Hennig-era version was considered poor quality. The studio cut many levels and gameplay mechanics from the final release to pivot the game's direction.
Early footage shows underwater Reef setting with Nathan Drake and Elena
Early development footage shows a setting called Reef where Nathan Drake hunted underwater wrecks alongside Elena and Sully. The narrative underwent substantial changes, including the removal of a playable orphanage section. Character casting also shifted, with Alan Tudyk originally cast as Rafe and Todd Stashwick as Sam Drake.
Sam Drake was originally intended to be a more prominent villain in the story. Coley from Uncharted 3 was slated to return but was ultimately scrapped. These changes reflect a major overhaul of the game's core identity and supporting cast during its production.
Naughty Dog restructured the project to create a different experience from the original vision. The studio removed alternate story beats and redefined character roles to align with the final product. This shift allowed the team to refine the gameplay and narrative focus before launch.
Source: Insider Gaming