Uncharted 3 to be set in the desert?

What we heard: It would come as no surprise for Uncharted developer Naughty Dog to be deep in development of a third Nathan Drake adventure. Both the original and its sequel won rave reviews when they were released in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Further, Uncharted: Among Thieves has sold more than 3 million units.

What's more, the intellectual property is a hot one. A movie based on the series, directed by David O. Russell and starring Mark Wahlberg as Nathan Drake, is set to begin filming this summer.

Neither Sony nor Naughty Dog has said a word about Uncharted 3 to date. That said, Amazon's French arm listed the product just hours before Sony's Electronic Entertainment Expo briefing in June. Sony did not comment on the matter at the time.

Now, according to a source speaking with Kotaku, it appears the game not only exists, but will be set in the desert, possibly in Africa. The first Uncharted title was set primarily in a jungle setting, and its sequel, Among Thieves, ranged in locale, from jungles and urban areas to the peaks and caves of the snowy Himalayas. The same source also told Kotaku that Sony is planning an Uncharted 3 reveal on or around the 2010 Video Game Awards show, which airs on Saturday, December 11. Sony has also teased a game unveiling for Sunday, December 12, at a private event in Los Angeles--for which Uncharted 3 now appears to be a top contender.

The official story: Sony had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment or clarification on the matter as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: Likely not bogus that Sony has something to share during the 2010 Video Game Awards, and certainly not bogus that a third Uncharted game exists. Similarly, it's not unlikely that the title will be set in a locale new to the series. Whatever the case may be, if the source proves accurate, answers will arrive very soon.