[Update 6/17/2020: This article has been updated to include the possibility of the handwriting in Nathan's journal being Sam's]
Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4 came out in 2016, but only now does it appear evidence has been uncovered in the game that suggests Nathan Drake was cheating on his wife all along. Given that Nathan has been hopelessly in love with journalist Elena Fisher since the first installment of the series, this may appear out-of-character, but the evidence supporting this theory is striking.
Not only are there hints in Uncharted 4 pointing to Nathan’s playboy ways, but players can actually discover clues as early on as the second game. They may be subtle, but the evidence speaks volumes. With Naughty Dog’s sense of humor, it’s not necessarily shocking they would incorporate these tiny details into their games, though the discreet hints may still take players by surprise when discovered.
These clues could be foreshadowing that Nathan and Elena will experience trouble relationship troubles in the highly-anticipated Uncharted 5, which may not be officially confirmed to be in the works but has certainly captured the attention of fans. At the very least, players can expect more tiny but powerful details in future installments of the Uncharted series, but happiness may not be where these characters are heading to.
Nathan Drake’s Uncharted 4 Journal Entry Provides A Clue
Uncharted 4 gave more attention to Nathan and Elena’s relationship than ever before. Previously, Elena showed up whenever her skills (or a plot twist) was needed, but by the fourth game, Naughty Dog tried to build upon the player’s emotional attachment to the couple, developing an entire side story about how Nate hid his and Sam’s mission from Elena so as not to disappoint her. But a hint that can be accessed in his journal in Uncharted 4 suggests that there may be more Nathan was hiding from Elena than only his job. If players go to one of the first pages of his journal, they’ll see a section called “useful Italian phrases.” One of the phrases Nate has handily translated is “Do you have a boyfriend?”
There may be a few explanations as to why Nathan – a married man – has a need for this phrase to be translated. He may need to flirt with someone as part of a ruse or cover, or perhaps he’s just being a good wing-man for his brother. After all, Sam had just escaped from jail after spending a few decades behind bars. The next phrase translated is “My brother is an idiot,” which doesn’t seem like something Nate would say if he wanted to help his brother charm a woman. However, at the same time, the line asking about a boyfriend is the only one written in a curved handwriting whereas the other ones are written in a cleaner print. It's possible that Sam added that line to the section, only for Nate to refer to him as an "idiot" below for stealing hiss journal. It would make more sense why Sam wants to find a lady, after all. But it appears it's up to the player to decide for themself what this clue adds up to.
Evidence Of Nathan’s Affairs In Uncharted 2
In Uncharted 2, there’s even more evidence suggesting that Nate is a player. One of the pages of his journal includes a list of his conquests. The page is filled with dried flowers, symbolizing each of the women he’s had flings with. Both Chloe and Elena are included – he even has a photo of Elena attached via paper clip. Each entry includes the name of the woman and some way to contact her, like a phone number or email. Perhaps Nate was saving the info in case an opportunity presented itself in the future.
Granted, it wasn’t until the end of Uncharted 2 that he and Elena officially get together, and having his own version of a little black book isn’t that scandalous. Given that Nathan and Elena’s relationship problems were an important side story in the next game, it’s not far-fetched to assume that his philandering is what caused the issues. Nathan may only tell people Elena was primarily upset with him being a treasure hunter because he doesn’t want to reveal the real truth about his relationship troubles.
These subtle hints seem to suggest that Uncharted's Nathan Drake has been unfaithful to Elena during the course of their relationship, but it’s ultimately up to players to decide for themselves if the clues add up or not.