According to a new report by Liam Robertson from the YouTube channel Did You Know Gaming?, Microsoft once tried to create its own version of Uncharted for Xbox during the time Naughty Dog’s series was at its peak. The source is reliable, considering the amount of research behind each Did You Know Gaming? video, which often presents small, well-researched documentaries about video game history. The video even includes exclusive material showing how the game might have looked.
Microsoft’s Early 2000s Ambitions
In the early 2000s, while staying loyal to its main franchises—Halo and Gears of War—Microsoft also explored new directions, including the creation of an “Uncharted for Xbox.” The project reportedly reached an advanced stage before being cancelled.
In the video (thanks Insider-Gaming), Robertson speaks with former Microsoft developers who shared that, during Xbox One’s development, the company wanted a game similar to Uncharted. The project, codenamed Project Ranger, was being developed by Black Tusk Studios (now known as The Coalition, the studio behind Gears 5).
Originally, the team was working on a Halo Kinect project but was later assigned to create a new cinematic action game inspired by Uncharted, mixed with spy-themed elements similar to Mission: Impossible.
Some unpaid students from the Savannah College of Art and Design created concept art for the title. The developers hoped the new IP would become Xbox’s next major franchise. Certain sequences were even shown during the Xbox showcase at E3 2013, although it was never officially confirmed as a working title. Interestingly, the main character, Cole, was voiced by Liam McIntyre—who now plays Wolverine in Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine.
Unfortunately, creative disagreements between Microsoft executives and the development team caused delays. Later, Black Tusk Studios was asked to take over the Gears of War franchise alongside Rod Fergusson, which they accepted. This decision ultimately led to the end and cancellation of Project Ranger. Robertson’s video includes numerous concept artworks and gameplay clips, providing a clear idea of what this “Uncharted for Xbox” could have been.
