On Friday, Naughty Dog announced they will be releasing a remastered version of The Last of Us Part II on January 19, 2024, for PS5. They did so with a brief teaser that will entice players who already love the game to think about upgrading their PS4 version and convince those who haven’t played it yet that this is their chance. However, it is with the add-ons that they laid the most convincing arguments that this is the definitive version of the sequel game to own.
In addition to overall PS5-level quality upgrades (the PS4 graphics are especially noticeable when compared with the PS5 remake of the 2013 original game), the studio behind the beloved game franchise also announced a series of new features that will be incorporated into The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Let’s break them down.
Additional features for The Last of Us Part II Remastered
There will be a new mode called No Return, described as “a roguelike survival mode designed to let players prove their mettle in randomized encounters”. The new feature will include new playable characters to choose from – the teaser already revealed Lev and Dina will be part of that array of characters. Each of them comes with their own traits. The runs are highly customizable, including the rewards you get after each encounter. Players will also have the chance to compete on a global leaderboard.
Per Naughty Dog:
“Players will 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.”
More details to come.
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Another new feature will be the Guitar Free Play mode. This is something that was already featured at specific points in the story, where players had the chance to not continue progress and stop for a second to practice with the guitar. However, they were few and far between, and because it was a favorite moment for many of the players, Naughty Dog decided to make it available at any time.
Some of the best moments of the story happened around that guitar, and now players will have the chance to hum “Future Days”, “Take On Me”, or whatever other song they prefer.
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The Last of Us Part II Remastered also features a lot of new behind-the-scenes content, including a commentary over the game’s cutscenes by director Neil Druckmann, narrative lead Haley Gross, and actors Troy Baker (Joel), Ashley Johnson (Ellie), and Laura Bailey (Abby).
Additionally, it will feature a “comprehensive” dive into how the studio created the game, and include a set of Lost Levels, i.e., a few set pieces that were in the early stages of development back when the game was being made but were ultimately scrapped. Note that they are still not finished. They haven’t revealed yet which levels they will be, but we do know that Ellie was at one point supposed to go to Seraphite Island and that there was an extended sequence on the farm. Those are two possibilities.
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The new version will allow players to unlock new skins for Ellie and Abby, as well as their weapons. In the trailer, we already see that Ellie can wear her astronaut suit, which is one of several new costumes you’ll be able to wear.
For the players that already own the PS4 version
Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the announcement is that players who already own the PS4 version of The Last of Us will be able to upgrade to Remastered for $10 (international prices to be revealed later). This will also allow them to save the original saves for the game they already own, and all they have to do is insert the PS4 disc whenever they want to play. The Remastered version will be loaded automatically.
There are a ton more add-ons, including a full description of the upgraded qualities and new accessibility options, which you can find on this link. Pre-orders will go live on Dember 5.
What do you think of The Last of Us Part II Remastered? Do you already own the PS4 version and are planning to upgrade? Will this be the first time you play it? Let us know your thoughts on our social media, and stay tuned for more of The Last of Us!
KEEP READING: The Last of Us Part 2: How Naughty Dog Created One of the Best Stories Ever Told
