Early Build of the First Uncharted Shown — Drake and Elena Looked Different, and the Iconic Ring Was Missing

YouTuber Thekempy has shared footage of the oldest known beta build of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, revealing just how much the game changed before release. This May 2007 build — six months prior to launch — features cut mechanics, different character designs, and even enemies that never made it to the final version.

It appears that this very build was the one showcased during Sony’s Gamer Day 2007. The version includes a number of differences — from a slightly altered UI and ammo boxes instead of scattered guns to a fully functional sprint button. In this early build, Drake could sprint by holding down the Circle button — a mechanic later removed in favor of his speed changing automatically based on context.

The build’s files also reveal spiders, which were seemingly planned as enemies. This feature appears to have been in a very early stage of development and didn’t survive to release. Interestingly, spiders did eventually appear in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, functioning similarly to how Naughty Dog had originally planned.

There are visual differences as well. Elena had brown hair, while Nathan Drake looked noticeably younger and wore a pendant instead of his iconic ring engraved with "Sic Parvis Magna". It seems that at one point, the developers even considered a completely different symbol of Drake's legacy — a change that could have significantly altered the story.

While early prototypes often differ drastically from the final game, Thekempy’s discovery offers a rare glimpse into the development of one of Naughty Dog’s most iconic titles — and shows what the first Uncharted might have been if things had gone a little differently.

Previously, it was reported that Microsoft once attempted to create its "own Uncharted" for Xbox — but despite promising concepts, the project was ultimately cancelled.