Uncharted's Nathan Drake Used to Look Like This

With the release of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection just around the corner, Naughty Dog has now revealed what the original character mode for Nathan Drake looked like and who he was modeled after.

The Verge has obtained the mesmerizing animated GIF below that depicts a Nathan Drake that was partially based on Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame. We can definitely see the resemblance. However, this design was ultimately scuttled for the "more traditionally handsome" version seen in the franchise today.

Writer Josh Scherr, who has been with Naughty Dog since the inception of the Uncharted series, also reveals that about 20-30 actors auditioned for the role of Nathan Drake. But the part ultimately went to Nolan North, who had the ability to perform scenes of seriousness and levity better than anyone.

Also included in The Verge's story is the original pitch video for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, which was known at the time as Project Big. It's quite a sight to behold, showing off the game's high-level concepts, some of which would not make it into the final game.

The Nathan Drake Collection launches on October 8 exclusively for PlayStation 4, though you can play a free demo starting September 29. In addition to 1080p/60fps versions of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, players can expect new difficulty options and a Photo Mode. Everyone who buys the collection also gets access to the Uncharted 4: A Thief's End multiplayer beta, which runs December 4-13 on PS4.

In other news about the game, Naughty Dog has explained why the collection does not include 2012 PlayStation Vita game Golden Abyss. You can also read up on the game's day one patch and see the title's file size.