Naughty Dog has confirmed that the main protagonist in the Uncharted franchise, Nathan Drake, will not be included in the upcoming game Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

The Lost Legacy is a new standalone story set six to 12 months after the events of Uncharted 4. The action kicks off with a search for a priceless relic - the Tusk of Ganesha - and a decidedly unlikely pairing.

This time around, Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross are expected to be the main characters. The two are reluctant partners who don't see eye-to-eye, but who must work together to obtain the priceless Tusk from a mysterious warlord named Asav.

"Chloe is an interesting character with a darker moral compass compared to Drake" Uncharted writer Josh Scherr remarks. "They're both treasure hunters. Drake has a bit of a hero complex, but Chloe looks out for number one, first and foremost.” It's Chloe who initiates the hunt for the Tusk."

"Chloe would need somebody with military expertise," Escayg said. "In all of Uncharted, Nadine is probably the most rational and practical character we've ever introduced,” Scherr added. “She tends to take a direct approach."

According to Uncharted game director Kurt Margenau, the game will have a "a bigger, more organic feel, with more player choice," as The Lost Legacy will contain traversal challenges, environmental puzzles, shootouts, and more.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is expected to release in the last quarter of 2017 exclusively for PlayStation 4.