Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End received praise for its narrative, emotional depth, musical score, visual quality, improved gameplay, and multiplayer modes. Stealth play was also made more realistic, and multiplayer was upgraded with competitive and co-operative modes. The development team sought to incorporate elements of open-world gameplay, with vehicles and larger levels. They were replaced by Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann, who had directed the company’s previous game, The Last of Us, and many elements were scrapped or redesigned. Development was hampered significantly in 2014, after lead writers and creative directors Amy Hennig and Justin Richmond departed Naughty Dog.
