Quick Answer: The uncharted nathan drake collection pc port developed by SuperMedo (Mohammed Albarghouthi) allows the original PS4 titles to run natively on Windows 10 and 11. Instead of traditional emulation, it executes original PS4 x86-64 code directly on PC hardware while translating graphics calls to Vulkan 1.3, enabling 120+ FPS, native keyboard/mouse controls, and DLSS/FSR frame generation.
Running console exclusives on PC historically meant waiting for an official release or waiting years for emulators to reach playable frame rates. The release of the uncharted nathan drake collection pc port project changes that paradigm entirely. Built on the technical breakthroughs of bbport (the native Linux Bloodborne port project) and rendering elements from shadPS4, this project runs Uncharted 1 (Drake's Fortune), Uncharted 2 (Among Thieves), and Uncharted 3 (Drake's Deception) directly on Windows without the massive CPU overhead of virtualized emulation.
The Architecture Behind Native PS4 Binary Translation
Most gamers assume that playing PlayStation games on modern hardware requires hypervisors or complex architecture simulation layers like RPCS3. However, the PlayStation 4 relies on standard x86-64 CPU architecture combined with AMD Radeon graphics hardware. Because modern desktop processors speak the exact same machine language as the PS4, virtualizing the CPU is completely unnecessary.
This project leverages binary translation alongside OS-level wrapper hooks. Rather than simulating a PS4 processor, the application loads the decrypted PS4 executable binaries (big2-ps4_Shipping.elf, big3-ps4_Shipping.elf, and eboot.bin) straight into Windows memory space. System calls designed for Sony's proprietary Orbis OS are intercepted and rerouted to native Windows APIs using LLVM runtime tools and custom wrappers.
Graphics handling relies heavily on Vulkan 1.3. PS4 games query the proprietary GNM or GNMX graphics APIs. The project translates these draw calls directly into Vulkan pipelines using Sirit and custom shader compilation pipelines, matching modern GPU capabilities. Benchmarks across early community builds demonstrate up to a 60% lower CPU utilization floor compared to conventional emulation approaches, shifting performance bottlenecks back to raw GPU throughput where they belong.
That said, there's a real catch here: because you are running native console code, timing issues that never occurred on fixed console hardware suddenly surface when running at unlocked frame rates.
Graphics Upscaling, Frame Generation, and Input Features
While the original PS4 collection capped gameplay at 1080p and 60 frames per second, this native implementation strips away hardcoded display boundaries. High-refresh-rate monitors running at 120Hz, 145Hz, or higher are supported, though frame rates beyond 120 FPS remain classified as experimental due to physics engine tie-ins.
To power extreme resolutions like 4K without sacrificing frametime consistency, the port integrates modern upscaling standards directly into the Vulkan rendering pipeline:
- NVIDIA DLSS & DLAA: Native integration of
nvngx_dlss.dllallows RTX GPU owners to run deep learning anti-aliasing or upscaling with zero image blur. - AMD FSR 3.1 & FSR 4 Assets: Integrated using the AMD FidelityFX SDK, offering high-quality spatial and temporal upscaling for non-NVIDIA hardware.
- Frame Generation: Supports AMD FSR 3 frame generation on all Vulkan 1.3 capable GPUs, along with NVIDIA DLSS frame generation scaling (2x frame insertion on RTX 40-series and up to 4x scaling on RTX 50-series GPUs).
Control schemes have also evolved past standard DualShock emulation. The project incorporates SDL3 for low-latency input parsing, allowing fully remappable keyboard and mouse inputs alongside Xbox, DualSense, and generic XInput controllers. In Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, true hybrid mouse-look is implemented natively, replacing analog stick emulation curves with raw mouse input delta translation.
Here is where most guides go wrong: they assume toggling every high-end graphics feature at once will produce a smooth experience, but combining third-party frame generation with unconstrained engine timing breaks physics logic during fast traversal sections.
Game Dump Requirements and File System Prerequisites
Legal compliance and functional integrity require users to supply their own legally obtained, decrypted PS4 game files. The project does not ship with copyrighted game code, artwork, or audio assets. Attempting to run raw, encrypted PKG files directly from a disc dump will result in immediate boot failure.
To run the port successfully, you must extract a decrypted dump of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (commonly region codes CUSA02343 or CUSA02320). Ensure your working folder contains the following exact root files and directory paths:
eboot.bin(Primary bootloader)big2-ps4_Shipping.elf(Uncharted 2 executable module)big3-ps4_Shipping.elf(Uncharted 3 executable module)sce_sys/(PlayStation system configuration folder)u1data/,u2data/, andu3data/(Game asset archives)
System hardware prerequisites remain accessible compared to traditional emulators. You need a 64-bit installation of Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) or Windows 11. Your system must feature at least 8 GB of combined memory (system RAM plus page file space) and a graphics card with active Vulkan 1.3 driver support (such as NVIDIA Pascal/Turing/Ampere/Ada or AMD RDNA1/2/3 architectures).
This next part matters more than it looks: skipping driver updates on Vulkan 1.3 implementations often leads to broken pipeline state object (PSO) caches, causing severe stuttering during asset loading.
Launcher Setup and Steam Integration Guide
Setting up the uncharted nathan drake collection pc port requires minimal manual environment configuration thanks to the integrated PyInstaller launcher executable.
- Extract the Archive: Unpack the official release ZIP into a dedicated directory on your system (avoid
C:\Program Filesto prevent Windows permission conflicts). - Launch the Frontend: Execute
Uncharted.exeto bring up the Dear ImGui control interface. - Target File Directory: Click Browse on the main tab and select the root folder containing your decrypted
eboot.binand game data folders. - Configure Display Options: Navigate to the Display panel. Set your target refresh rate (60 Hz or 120 Hz recommended for initial setup) and choose your preferred anti-aliasing method (TAA, DLSS, or FSR 3.1).
- Select Game Title: Choose Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves, or Drake's Deception from the launch panel and press PLAY.
For seamless integration with handheld PCs or desktop launcher setups, the launcher includes built-in hooks to create desktop shortcuts and generate direct launch commands for Steam. You can register individual games as non-Steam shortcuts using launcher launch arguments, enabling the Steam Overlay and customized Steam Input configurations.
Performance Comparison: Native Translation vs Emulation
Understanding why this native port yields vastly superior frametimes compared to legacy software requires evaluating how system tasks are handled across different execution strategies.
| Technical Attribute | Native Binary Port (uncharted_pc) | PS4 Emulation (shadPS4) | PS3 Emulation (RPCS3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Architecture | Native x86-64 Execution | Virtualized / JIT Compiled | Cell Broadband Engine JIT |
| Graphics API | Direct Vulkan 1.3 Translation | Layered Vulkan / OpenGL | Vulkan Translation Layer |
| Average CPU Overhead | Low (10% - 20%) | High (50% - 80%) | Very High (70% - 100%) |
| Input Translation | Native Mouse/SDL3 | Controller Emulation | Controller Emulation |
| Upscaling Support | Native DLSS / FSR 3 / FSR 4 | Shader-based Upscaling | Internal Resolution Scaling |
As shown in the technical trade-off matrix, native binary translation avoids recompilation latency completely. Instead of struggling with complex multi-threaded SPU instruction sets like RPCS3, the CPU processes game logic at native instruction speed.
Troubleshooting Frame Pacing, Shader Flashing, and GPU Crashes
Because you are running raw code at parameters native developers never anticipated, technical edge cases can occur. Below are common failure modes and verified operational fixes.
Resolving the Uncharted 3 Cartagena Square Freeze
In Uncharted 3 (Chapter 2, Cartagena Square), running at unlocked frame rates (such as 240 Hz mode pushing over 80 FPS) can trigger an unexpected crash: GPU crash: the graphics device was lost. This stems from an aggressive engine speed optimization fix interacting poorly with local geometry streaming.
- Fix: Open the launcher settings, navigate to Display, set the frame rate limit strictly to 60 FPS before entering Chapter 2, and complete the square sequence. Once past the market area, you can return to 120 FPS. Ensure you are running software version 0.3 or higher where this issue has been mostly mitigated.
Fixing the Frame Sync Assertion Crash
If your game unexpectedly crashes during shader compiling with the error ASSERTION: GetRenderFrameParams(frameToFreeInstancesFor)->m_gfxEopTick, your CPU has queued too many rendering frames ahead of the GPU while shaders were compiling in the background.
- Fix: Update to project version 0.3.1 or newer. This version restricts engine logic to remain at most one frame ahead of the Vulkan presentation queue—mirroring the original PS4 hardware synchronization behavior.
Dealing with Character Shader Artifacts
In certain scenes (such as Sully's shirt during early chapters of Uncharted 3), bright green or black triangular shapes may flash across the character model for a single frame. This artifact originates in the shared shadPS4 shader translation backend when handling specific vector math operations.
- Fix: This is a known shader translation bug. It does not cause game instability or memory corruption. You can reduce its visibility by enabling DLAA or TAA in the graphics settings, which smooths out single-frame pixel anomalies.
Most people stop here when encountering a single crash—don't. Checking your user\last_run.log file provides precise visibility into whether an issue is caused by a missing audio codec (LibAtrac9), a missing dynamic library, or a genuine driver timeout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to play Uncharted PS4 on PC using this native port?
To play, download the uncharted_pc release archive by SuperMedo, extract it to your system, and launch Uncharted.exe. Point the launcher to your decrypted PS4 game directory containing eboot.bin and the u1data, u2data, and u3data folders, select your game title, and click Play.
Do I need a PS4 emulator like shadPS4 to run this project?
No. This standalone project uses native PS4 binary execution with its own custom launcher, SDL3 input bindings, and integrated Vulkan graphics translation layer. It runs as a native Windows application without requiring an external emulation layer.
Why does Uncharted 3 crash during the Cartagena market scene?
High frametimes and frame rates exceeding 80 FPS in Chapter 2 cause an out-of-sync condition in the geometry engine, leading to a driver loss error. Lowering your display frame rate setting to 60 Hz in the launcher fixes this crash.
Is frame generation supported on all graphics cards?
AMD FSR 3 frame generation is supported on any graphics card equipped with Vulkan 1.3 drivers. NVIDIA DLSS frame generation requires an RTX 40-series GPU or newer running current GeForce graphics drivers.
Next Steps for PC Players
The uncharted nathan drake collection pc port demonstrates the astonishing potential of binary translation, delivering top-tier performance for classic console exclusives without waiting for official PC conversions. If you have a clean game dump ready, test the launcher with a 60 FPS cap on your initial run to let the shader cache establish itself smoothly.
Try running the project on your setup this week and monitor your frametimes using built-in metrics. If you encounter any unhandled crashes, grab the contents of your user\last_run.log and share your hardware specifications directly on the community project channels. To explore similar high-performance execution projects, check out our technical analysis on PS4 Binary Translation Architectures and our comprehensive guide to Optimizing Vulkan Shader Caching on Windows.