- Uncharted 5 Sam Drake is a top fan pick for the next protagonist thanks to his open-ended fate.
- Troy Baker voices Sam, and his character arc anchors Uncharted 4: A Thief's End.
- No official announcement exists yet — Naughty Dog's current project is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
- Three return scenarios dominate rumors: protagonist, wildcard antagonist, or supporting uncle to Cassie Drake.
- Any release would likely be years away, possibly from another PlayStation Studios team.
Who Is Sam Drake in the Uncharted Series?
Samuel Drake is the emotional engine of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Introduced as Nathan Drake's long-lost older brother, Sam resurfaces after fifteen years presumed dead in a Panamanian prison, dragging a retired Nathan back into the hunt for Henry Avery's pirate treasure. Voiced and performed through motion capture by Troy Baker, Sam blends sibling warmth with a gambler's recklessness — he lies, he digs, and he always needs one more score.
Before his mainline debut, Sam also anchored the Uncharted 4 prequel comic and the Nathan Drake Collection-era spin-off novel, fleshing out the brothers' childhood as they adopted the "Drake" surname from their belief in descent from Sir Francis Drake.
Sam is the only major Uncharted 4 cast member whose story deliberately avoids a settled epilogue. While Nathan gets a family and Chloe gets closure, Sam rides off with Sully toward new adventures — a story door Naughty Dog left visibly open.
Sam Drake Character Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Morgan (Drake) |
| Voice / performance | Troy Baker |
| First appearance | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016) |
| Key relationships | Nathan Drake (brother), Sully (partner), Rafe Adler (rival) |
| Status at end of U4 | Alive, treasure hunting with Sully |
| U5 return odds | Plausible — fate left open by design |
Sam Drake's Story Arc in A Thief's End
Sam's return drives the entire plot of Uncharted 4. His arc unfolds across three phases, each reshaping how players see the Drake brothers.
The Prison Revelation
Sam fakes his death in a Panamanian prison after learning about Avery's treasure from cellmate Gustavo's leads. He reappears at Nathan's door with a story that pulls his brother out of retirement.
The Rafe Rivalry
Fifteen years earlier, Sam and Nathan hunted Avery's stash with the funded backing of Rafe Adler. Sam's imprisonment and Rafe's obsession with finishing the hunt himself set up the game's central three-way conflict.
Libertalia and the Escape
On Libertalia and Madagascar, Sam's shortcuts and lies nearly cost everything. In the finale, Nathan saves Sam from the burning treasure ship, and Sam repays his brother by quietly funding Nate's salvage company — then sails off with Sully.
Sam's goodbye scene with Sully is the last we see of them: two aging adventurers heading toward a new job. Naughty Dog rarely writes exits this open unless a future entry could use them.
Uncharted 5 Sam Drake: The Three Return Scenarios
Community discussion around Uncharted 5 keeps circling back to Sam because his character solves the franchise's biggest problem: Nathan's story is finished, but the Drake name is not. Here are the three scenarios fans and insider chatter most often cite.
Scenario 1: Protagonist
- Sam as playable lead with Sully as companion
- Continues directly from U4's ending
- Older, rougher adventurer energy
- Keeps the Drake lineage without retconning Nathan's ending
Scenario 2: Supporting Uncle
- Cassie Drake leads, Sam appears as the reckless uncle
- Mirrors the Sully-mentor dynamic from the originals
- Lets Troy Baker and a new lead share the stage
- Most narratively elegant passing of the torch
Scenario 3: Wildcard Antagonist
- Sam's greed finally crosses a line
- Rival or semi-villain role versus a new hero
- Riskier tonally, but built on established flaws
- Would give Troy Baker a darker showcase
None of these scenarios is confirmed. Naughty Dog has not announced Uncharted 5, and the studio's announced project remains Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Reports also suggest a future Uncharted could come from a different PlayStation Studios team rather than Naughty Dog itself.
How Sam Compares to Other Uncharted 5 Candidates
Sam is not the only name in the rumor mill. The table below ranks the most-discussed candidate leads and what each brings to a potential fifth mainline entry.
| Candidate | Voice Actor | Strengths | Risks | Rumor Momentum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Drake | Troy Baker | Open-ended U4 ending, established lead energy | Older cast, needs fresh motivation | High |
| Cassie Drake | Kaitlyn Dever (fan cast) | Torch-pass built into U4 epilogue | No established voice or history | Very high |
| Chloe Frazer | Claudia Black | Already headlined The Lost Legacy | Franchise may want a Drake lead | Moderate |
| Nathan Drake | Nolan North | Iconic status | U4 epilogue closed his arc | Cameo only |
| Nadine Ross | Laura Bailey | Strong duo chemistry with Chloe | Better as co-star than solo lead | Low |
The strongest rumor pattern pairs Cassie Drake as lead with Sam and Sully in mentor roles — a setup that uses Sam's open ending without demanding he carry a full game alone.
Sam Drake Knowledge Checklist
Before the next official Uncharted news drop, make sure you're caught up on everything Sam-related.
Sam Drake Essentials:
- Finish Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and watch the ending scenes with Sam and Sully
- Complete The Lost Legacy to understand where the franchise can go beyond Nathan
- Replay the Panama prison prologue chapters for Sam's backstory
- Follow Troy Baker interviews for any Uncharted 5 hints
- Track Naughty Dog news on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for studio timing
Where to Experience Sam's Story in 2026
| Platform | Release | Sam Content |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Legacy of Thieves Collection | Full Uncharted 4 campaign, remastered |
| PC (Steam / Epic) | Legacy of Thieves Collection | Same campaign with ultrawide and DualSense support |
| PS4 | Uncharted 4 original disc/digital | Full campaign, no multiplayer in later patches |
| Comic / Novel | Dark Horse Uncharted comic, novel | Prequel material expanding Sam's early years |
The Legacy of Thieves Collection bundles Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy in one remastered package — the complete modern way to experience Sam Drake's story ahead of any Uncharted 5 reveal.
Sam Drake FAQ
Q: Will Sam Drake be the protagonist of Uncharted 5?
It is unconfirmed. Sam is a popular candidate because Uncharted 4 ends with him actively treasure hunting alongside Sully, but Naughty Dog has not announced Uncharted 5 or any cast for it.
Q: Who voices Sam Drake?
Troy Baker provides the voice and performance capture for Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Baker has remained attached to the character and frequently discusses the series in interviews.
Q: Is Sam Drake still alive at the end of Uncharted 4?
Yes. Sam survives the finale, secretly helps Nathan's salvage business succeed, and departs on a new job with Sully — an intentionally open ending that fuels Uncharted 5 speculation.
Q: Could Sam Drake appear alongside Cassie Drake in Uncharted 5?
That pairing is one of the most discussed fan theories. Uncharted 4's epilogue introduced Cassie, Nathan and Elena's daughter, and many expect any Uncharted 5 to feature a new-generation lead with veterans like Sam or Sully in supporting roles.