In the wake of the reveal of The Last of Us Part 1, a full remake of the original 2012 release for PlayStation 3, there were plenty of questions about how much it would actually change. But based on a new video released by Naughty Dog today, the answer is "plenty."
The Last Of Us director Neil Druckmann was among those taking center stage to outline some of the biggest enhancements to the beloved classic, from graphical enhancements to improvements to accessibility. The team also outlined a host of new features, which include:
- A new Permadeath Mode
- A Speedrun Mode where players can time their runs
- Unlockable costumes for Joel and Ellie
- An enhanced Photo Mode
- A Model Viewer Mode
That's on top of big changes to AI, graphics, and controls, which aim to enhance The Last Of Us at pretty much every level. For instance, the remake will utilize the DualSense's haptics to add tension as Elllie draws a bowstring, or to enhance the tactile feel of Joel and Ellie petting a giraffe.
Naughty Dog hopes that these changes will make The Last Of Us Remake, as Druckmann puts it, "extremely better" than the original game.
The Last Of Us Part 1 was first confirmed back during the Summer Game Fest after several leaks, whereupon we got to see the updated version running on PS5. Criticis have wondered whether The Last Of Us needs a full remake just a decade after its original release, but Naughty Dog insists it's not just a "cash grab."
"It's the definitive way to play The Last of Us," Druckmann says.
We'll be able to see for ourselves just how enhanced The Last Of Us Remake is when it releases September 2 on PlayStation 5 and PC.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.