If you keep up with the Uncharted fandom, you might remember that Naughty Dog announced in May 2021 that they teamed up with Prime 1 Studio to celebrate Uncharted 4’s 5-year anniversary. Fast forward about a year to April 2022’s Prime 1 Studio Next Level Showcase 4, and Prime 1 has finally announced their prototype Nathan Drake statue! It looks absolutely amazing. So, as a dutiful Uncharted fan, I’m going to briefly break down all the Easter eggs from the game that I spied on the statue (at least, as shown during the aforementioned Showcase).
First off, the mandatory disclaimer: The statue shown was a prototype. Their artwork is not yet final, so changes may be made.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s start with the iconic outfit! Obviously, we’ve got the blue henley, and the detail work is phenomenal. You can see the fraying threads, people! The wear and tear, the dirt, the blood, sweat, and tears! Okay, maybe not tears, but…ya know. I got carried away. Back on topic, Nathan is wearing actual boots. I seem to recall in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, he wore something that looked almost like…Converse? Cheers to better traction in these shoes!
I also want to focus on the flashlight on his hip, which is very reminiscent of the one used in Uncharted 4 Chapter 16: The Brothers Drake. In the chapter, Sam and Nate explore a retired explorer’s home using flashlights to search for their mother’s journal. Those flashlights look very similar to the one featured on the statue. Very nice callback, Prime 1!
On to the weaponry. First off, can we appreciate the classic holster? Though he’s probably gotten a few upgrades (or a new holster altogether) over the years, the overall style has been Nathan’s go-to since the start. I loved the gameplay in Uncharted 4 Chapter 4: A Normal Life when he’s using the holster to hold toy guns instead of the real deal, and it’s nice to see it “in action” on the statue. As far as the handgun itself, this one looks like the Para .45? Now, I have terrible, terrible aim in video games, so the Para was my go-to because it had low recoil and was good for the mid-range fights I usually got myself into. It was basically the only reason I didn’t die way more than I already did, so I fancy I have a sharp eye for it.
For the base of the statue, Nathan is balanced on a gibbet. We saw many gibbets like this one in Uncharted 4 Chapter 18: New Devon. In it, Nathan and Elena approach the walls of New Devon, and the path is littered with the suspended cages. Additionally, I spotted a stone carving featuring the very pirate-y skull and crossbones and the phrase “Pro Deus Quod Licentia,” which in Latin roughly translates to, “For God and Liberty.” In the game, it was the motto of Libertalia, the mythical pirate colony Nathan and Sam discover over the course of the narrative. The phrase is also featured on the coin decorating the cover of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide. As far as the texture of the piece’s non-Nathan elements, the rust looks highly realistic, as do the wood and weathered stones. The pirate’s hat even has me thinking of Jack Sparrow, who rarely parted with his beloved tricorn hat in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
And finally, Nathan’s face! First of all, it actually looks like him. There have been some statues that didn’t quite capture his likeness. But this one definitely looks game-accurate, complete with cuts, scratches, and an “I’ll be the last man standing” expression Uncharted players are familiar with.
I, for one, was super excited when I saw the reveal during Prime 1’s Showcase. While there’s no word on when it’ll be made available for pre-order, you can guarantee I’ll be watching my email non-stop for that highly anticipated alert. And I may or may not place my order before I write the next article about it…
Will you be pre-ordering this glorious Nathan Drake statue, too? Better hurry!
