If you have already played The Last of Us Part 2 on its initial PS4 release, plus again thanks to the souped-up PlayStation 5 Part 2 Remastered release, and then once more on PC, but still want to play through the game yet again but with another new twist, well now you can.
Developer Naughty Dog has today announced a free update for Part 2 Remastered across PS5 and PC, which will let you play through Ellie and Abby’s stories chronologically. Please be aware of potential spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 below.
“Those who have already played will know its story is told non-linearly, as Ellie and Abby’s motivations, realisations, and emotional stakes unfold across myriad flashbacks and present-day storylines,” Naughty Dog wrote in a blog post detailing this Part 2 update.
“While this structure is very intentional and core to how our studio wanted Part 2’s themes and narrative beats to impact players, we always wondered what it would be like to experience this story chronologically. And now finally, we can answer that question.”
Naughty Dog hopes that replaying Part 2 with Ellie and Abby’s stories more interwoven like this will give players a deeper understanding and insight into the game’s narrative. It noted now, players will see Ellie receive her guitar from Joel and then her learning to play in a more fluid manner.
Then, when it comes to Seattle, players will see just how close Ellie and Abby actually come to crossing paths as they each make their way through the city on their own journeys of revenge and grief.
“It was no small feat to bring The Last of Us Part 2’s story chronologically together, given that Part 2’s story is so meticulously put together,” Naughty Dog said, adding new trophies have also been added as part of this update for those who complete the game in chronological order.
In addition to base game tweaks, this update will also include two new skins for The Last of Us Part 2’s roguelike mode No Return. In a Naughty Dog crossover, players who complete The Last of Us Part 2’s narrative chronologically will be able to adorn Joel in Nathan Drake of Uncharted fame’s garb. Tommy, meanwhile, has got himself a Sam Drake skin.
“We here at Naughty Dog are so grateful for all the love and support we’ve seen from The Last of Us fans these last few months,” Naughty Dog closed. “From the launch of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PC, to The Last of Us Complete on PlayStation 5, to seeing your weekly reactions to season two of the television series, it’s been such a pleasure to celebrate this moment with you.”
As for the TV series, The Last of Us season two wrapped earlier this year, with subsequent seasons still to conclude Part 2’s narrative. Last week, Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann announced he was stepping away from the adaptation. Soon after, Halley Gross – who co-wrote The Last of Us Part 2 with Druckmann, before also working on the show – announced she was also taking a step back from the HBO series to focus on other projects.