Uncharted 4 Multiplayer: Free DLC, Launch Modes, and More Announced

Naughty Dog today shared lots of new details regarding Uncharted 4's multiplayer mode. Perhaps the biggest piece of news, shared by game designer Robert Cogburn on the PlayStation Blog, is that all future DLC maps and modes will be free for all players. The game will have microtransactions, and will include things like "vanity and gameplay items," but Cogburn stressed that these can all be earned through gameplay.

The benefit of free multiplayer DLC, Cogburn said, is the Uncharted 4 multiplayer community "won't be fragmented." He went on to say that this represents an "entirely new direction" for Naughty Dog (past Uncharted games charged you for DLC maps), but it's not a new idea in games.

One recent high-profile example is Halo 5: Guardians, which offers its DLC maps and modes for free. Gears of War 4 also has plans for free DLC.

For its part, Cogburn said of the business model, "We are confident it will have a hugely positive impact and keep the Uncharted 4 multiplayer community thriving."

Some of Uncharted 4's post-launch multiplayer DLC will include things like the aforementioned maps and modes, as well as weapons, vanity items, and boosters, among other things. Players can unlock DLC by spending Relics, which you receive for completing challenges or winning matches. You then spend these Relics on DLC chests, of which there are two options: Vanity and Gameplay. The chests include randomized content, so there is no guarantee you'll get what you want. However, chests will never give the same reward twice, so you're encouraged to keep playing until you do.

You can also spend real money on Uncharted Points to unlock these items right away. Naughty Dog did not share any specific pricing details for the game's currency system.

Naughty Dog also shared a "multiplayer roadmap" for Uncharted 4 that details the content coming to the game after its release. As you can see, Naughty Dog plans to deliver quite a lot of free content from summer through spring 2017. One particularly noteworthy new addition is co-op, which comes out this fall. Take a look at the image below to learn more.

People who buy the Uncharted 4 "Triple Pack" ($25) will receive the previously announced Uncharted 4 single-player expansion (the first ever for Uncharted), as well as two multiplayer packs. These come with a range of items, including weapons and vanity wares. Descriptions for the packs are below, but specifics are being saved for a later date, it seems.

MP Pack #1

• Long Gun
• Booster
• Skin
• Hat
• Taunt

MP Pack #2

• Pistol
• Booster
• Mystical
• Hat
• Taunt

Finally, Naughty Dog shared a list of Uncharted 4 multiplayer modes that will be available at launch. You can see the names of these playlists below, while a full breakdown of each is available on the PlayStation Blog.

• Ranked
• Command
• Team Deathmatch
• Plunder
• Warmup Playlist
• Trials

After years of development and multiple delays, Uncharted 4 is now due to arrive on May 10 exclusively for PlayStation 4.