Developer Naughty Dog along with publisher Sony have revealed The Last of Us Part II Remastered with a January 2024 launch date for the PS5. This will be the definitive way to play the original The Last of Us sequel, The Last of Us Part II originally released back in 2020 for PS4 and PS5. Despite being a new title, it is not surprising for Naughty Dog to announce the Remastered version of The Last of Us Part II this early because it will target PlayStation 5 and its vast range of extra features and improved hardware power.
To showcase The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Naughty Dog has released a 4K trailer for it as well that you can check out below before we jump into additional details:
As we mentioned earlier, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is designed specifically for the PS5 console which means that it will use advanced features and hardware technology which was previously unavailable for the PS4. Apart from improvements and enhancements, it will also feature a brand-new mode called No Return, a roguelike survival mode where players will test their skill in randomized encounters and experience the game in a whole new way. It will include a different number of playable characters some of which are even brand-new to the franchise. Each one has its own unique traits that deliver a different playstyle.
Each run will be unique and everything including the enemies, the level and pickups will be randomized, and players will be free to choose their approach between stealth and combat. Each run will also feature a different number and types of enemies with unique twists that will add new, unexpected factors to each encounter. After each encounter, you will get the opportunity to unlock rewards that you like which will allow you to spec out your character according to your gameplay style. As you progress in this mode, you will unlock new characters, skins, and many more options to customize your runs. This mode will also feature a global leaderboard. Additional details about No Return will be shared closer to the launch.
Fans who loved the guitar-playing sections in the main story of the game will be happy to know that a separate Guitar Free Play mode is also coming in The Last of Us Part II Remastered which will allow players to strum the strings across a host of different, unlockable instruments at their own will. This mode will also allow players to use audio FX pedals to modulate their performance and play as different characters in different in-game locations to customize the mood and feel of your set. Fans who want to dive deep into the world will be happy to know that Part II Remastered will feature Lost Levels which are essentially half-developed levels that were cut from the full game, and they will provide new glimpses of the game complete with embedded developer commentary.
The developer has also added newly recorded director’s commentary across different campaign cutscenes featuring voices from director Neil Druckmann, narrative lead Halley Gross, and actors Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Laura Bailey. This commentary will provide insight into the story and its characters that were part of the full game already. The game also includes many new accessibility options for the PS5 version with additions to Descriptive Audio and Speech to Vibrations. The DualSense controller will indicate character speech and cadence. The Speedrun Mode is also making a comeback in Part II Remastered along with a lot of new skins that can be unlocked for Ellie, Abby, and their weapons. The Photo Mode also features new additions that will allow players to take pictures however they want with new frames and logo options.
The Last of Us Part II Remastered will make full use of PS5’s powerful hardware to deliver enhanced visuals including 4K output. In Fidelity Mode, the game will output 4K visuals while in Performance Mode, the game will deliver 1440p upscaled to 4K along with an unlocked Framerate option for TVs that support VRR. Other major visual enhancements include increased texture resolution, increased Level-of-Detail distances, improved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and more. Loading times are even lower this time around and the game will also fully use the DualSense wireless controller’s Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers for delivering a more immersive combat experience and exploration.
Pre-orders for The Last of Us Part II Remastered will start December 5, 2023, and you will be able to jump into the game on January 19, 2024. Apart from the standard edition, a special The Last of Us Part II Remastered W.L.F. Edition is also releasing exclusively from the PlayStation store in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Benelux, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Austria. The W.L.F. Edition includes a SteelBook® display case, four enamel pins, a Washington Liberation Front Patch, and a total of 47 Society of Champions trading cards, including eight holographic cards.
PS4 owners of the digital version and the disc version will be able to upgrade to The Last of Us Part II Remastered for just $10. The disc version will require a PS5 with a disc drive and every time, the players will need to insert their PS4 disc into the PS5 console to play the upgraded version. PS4 players will also be able to import their saves into the PS5 version of the game.
What are your thoughts on the official reveal of The Last of Us Part II Remastered? Will you be interested in playing it when it comes out next year? Let us know in the comments section below.
