The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Everything We Know

Remember when Rockstar Games re-released Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and then again for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as an “Expanded and Enhanced” version? Well, it just so happens that Naughty Dog has hopped on a similar bandwagon, and has, just three years after its original launch, decided to, well, re-release The Last of Us Part II. Does this technically warrant a second, third, or perhaps even fourth replay? Maybe. Either way, for just $10, it seems like an absolute steal, all things considered.

“We’re so excited to natively bring The Last of Us Part II to the PlayStation 5 as the definitive way to experience the sequel and everything it has to offer, while also offering fans new and returning deeper levels of appreciation for the work that went into it,” Naughty Dog wrote in a press release.

So, with the announcement well and truly out in the open, what more do you really need to know about the upcoming remaster? Well, if you did plan on double dipping the award-winning action-adventure IP at some point in 2024, then be sure to read on. Here’s everything you need to know about The Last of Us Part II Remastered.

What Is The Last of Us Part II Remastered?

To answer the question, is The Last of Us Part II Remastered just a straight up rehash of the 2020 original — yes, it is. Or at least, it is in a traditional sense, at least. As such, players can expect to relive the same bread and butter narrative that went on to win numerous awards, only in a rich, glossier, and even more graphically stunning environment.

In the words of its creators, the revitalized version will include “4K output(1) in Fidelity Mode, 1440p upscaled to 4K(1) in Performance Mode, an Unlocked Framerate option for TVs that support VRR, increased texture resolution, increased Level-of-Detail distances, improved shadow quality, animation sampling rate, and more.” So, quite the banquet of goodies, after all.

But that’s not all, apparently, as the upcoming repackage will also include a slew of nifty features, including a free-play guitar mode, which will give you the opportunity to “use audio FX pedals to modulate your performance, and play as different characters in several in-game locations to customize the mood and feel of your set.” What’s more, it’ll also feature a new mode titled No Return, which will come with its own customizable characters, loadouts, and cosmetics.

“The engrossing campaign returns alongside technological improvements, new modes, and new behind-the-scenes features that will deepen your understanding of Part II’s creation,” said Naughty Dog in a recent blog post. “The Last of Us Part II Remastered is designed to let you dig deeper into both its development and mechanics. Chief among these is a brand-new mode called No Return, a roguelike survival mode designed to let players prove their mettle in randomized encounters and experience The Last of Us Part II’s combat in a fresh experience.”

Story

From the sounds of the elevator pitch, the upcoming remaster will feature a textbook narrative, which means, if you have already slugged through the original that launched back in 2020, then you’ll no doubt already know what to expect with this one.

Storyline aside, The Last of Us Part II Remastered will also introduce No Return, a survival-based mode in which players will fill the boots of a classic character, and “chart their own course on each run, choosing between various stealth and combat encounters that will pit you against a range of enemies, with unique twists that can add new, unexpected factors to any given encounter.”

Going by the looks of the blog post, the aptly titled No Return mode won’t feature an online option, but it will, however, allow you to “compete on a global leaderboard as part of a Daily Run.” So that’s something.

Gameplay

According to the devs, Part II Remastered “takes advantage of the PS5’s power and features in more ways as well, including improved loading times. Part II Remastered also incorporates DualSense wireless controller haptic feedback and adaptive triggers integration to better immerse you in every moment of combat and exploration.”

In addition to its enhanced performance and 4K mode, Naughty Dog also promises to bring “more” to the table, which will no doubt come packaged in an announcement over the next several weeks. Until that time comes, however, just know this: it’s The Last of Us Part II, but with a few more bells and whistles, and not to mention the full power of the PlayStation 5’s core capabilities and the DualSense’s upgraded controls.

Development

Naughty Dog originally lifted the veil on the remastered version earlier this week, at which point the acclaimed studio shed light on a nifty new trailer, along with a slew of fresh updates and screenshots. According to the team, pre-orders will be available from December 5, 2023 onwards. You can check out the two launch editions and the features each one will contain down below.

Trailer

Interested in seeing the latest version in all its 4K glory? You can check out the announcement trailer for The Last of Us Part II Remastered in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

The Last of Us Part II Remastered will be heading to PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024, with pre-orders becoming available from December 5, 2023. If you already own a copy of The Last of Us Part II on PlayStation 4, then you can upgrade to the newest version for just $10.

In addition to the standard version that’ll be launching on January 19th, there’ll also be another edition—the W.L.F Edition, which will include the following items:

• SteelBook Case
• 4 Enamel Pins
• Washington Liberation Front Patch
• 47 Society of Champions Trading Cards

Interested in staying up to date with Naughty Dog’s latest endeavor? If so, then be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. If anything changes ahead of the game’s global debut, then we’ll be sure to let you know all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be returning to Joel and Ellie’s story in The Last of Us Part II Remastered when it releases on PlayStation 5? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.