Naughty Dog has officially dropped The Last of Us Part II Remastered for the PlayStation 5 on January 19, 2024, and for PC on April 3, 2025, offering both newcomers and returning fans an upgraded way to experience one of the most emotionally charged games of the last decade.
A Smoother, Better-Looking Experience
The remaster includes enhanced 4K visuals, improved performance with a 60 FPS option, faster load times, and full DualSense controller support on PS5. On PC, players benefit from uncapped frame rates, ultra-wide monitor support, customizable controls, and advanced graphics settings for high-end rigs.
Naughty Dog also added a lot of behind-the-scenes content for fans who want to dig deeper. This includes developer commentary, scrapped levels, and even a guitar free-play mode.
Quote from Naughty Dog
In a PlayStation Blog post, Naughty Dog wrote:
“With The Last of Us Part II Remastered, we wanted to give players a deeper look into our development process and add new gameplay experiences without altering the original story. No Return really pushes players to think and adapt on the fly.”
According to a report by IGN, the PC version has been well-optimized, addressing concerns from The Last of Us Part I‘s rough PC launch. GameSpot praised the PC release for finally bringing the full experience to a broader audience, highlighting the robust customization options and visual fidelity.
The New Roguelike Mode: No Return
One of the biggest additions is No Return, a roguelike survival mode where players pick from a lineup of characters—each with their own playstyle—and take on randomized encounters.
You’ll need to manage resources, adapt quickly, and survive against various enemy types. There’s also a Daily Challenge mode and a global leaderboard for those chasing high scores.
So far, players have been loving it. The mode breathes new life into the game’s already sharp combat system.
Community Reactions
While the original game had a polarizing story, the remaster is getting strong praise across the board. Many fans are appreciating the technical improvements and extra content.
On Reddit, one user commented:
“No Return is exactly the kind of endgame content this game needed. I’m hooked.”
Another wrote:
“I didn’t expect to get emotional again, but replaying it with all the visual upgrades just hit different.”
On Twitter, @JoelFan95 posted:
“$10 for this remaster? Total steal. No Return is wild.”
The PC version is also getting solid praise. Digital Foundry noted that “The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC delivers a near-flawless experience out of the gate,” commending its stability and high-end performance options.
Of course, some are still split on the story—but that’s always been part of the conversation around Part II. What’s clear is that Naughty Dog put in work to make this feel like more than just a visual upgrade.
Is It Worth Buying?
If you already own the PS4 version, you can upgrade to the remaster for just $10 USD. For new players on PS5 or PC, this is without a doubt the best way to experience The Last of Us Part II.
Between the visual polish, the new No Return mode, lost levels, developer commentary, and a smooth PC launch, The Last of Us Part II Remastered delivers real value—not just a prettier version of the same game.
